Metaverse healthcare can boost Taiwan's global competitiveness: Minister

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) Taiwan's integration of metaverse technology into healthcare could enhance the country's international visibility and competitiveness in the medical sector, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Monday.

Speaking at the 2026 Taiwan AI 3D Medical Imaging & Metaverse Application Conference in Taipei, Shih said the development marked an important milestone in Taiwan's efforts to combine its strengths in information and communications technology (ICT) with high-quality healthcare.

The conference, organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), showcased applications of 3D medical imaging and metaverse technologies in surgical planning, physician training and clinical care.

Also attending were Ho Chih-wei (何志偉), deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, ambassadors from five of Taiwan's diplomatic allies and representatives from the healthcare sector.

Shih said artificial intelligence has opened up new opportunities for Taiwan, while metaverse technology represents another promising area for development.

In medicine, such technology can be used in anatomy education, preoperative consultations with patients, surgical planning and intraoperative navigation and guidance, he said.

Taiwan has already donated its metaverse-based medical systems to several diplomatic allies and invited healthcare professionals from those countries to Taiwan for training in their use, according to Shih.

"This is another example of Taiwan combining its ICT capabilities with high-quality healthcare," he said, adding that the technology could further raise Taiwan's international profile and competitiveness in healthcare.

At the conference, Taiwan-based smart healthcare company IntelliGen Technology Co. announced that it would donate 3D medical image reconstruction equipment to hospitals in Taiwan and work with the MOHW to expand the technology's use.

The company has previously worked with the ministry to arrange training in Taiwan for doctors from diplomatic allies, including instruction in the use of metaverse and 3D imaging technologies for surgical navigation and medical training.

Meanwhile, Ho said advances in medical imaging have enabled doctors to move beyond relying primarily on experience when assessing patients, with 3D scans and data visualization now allowing medical risks to be presented more clearly through techniques such as color coding.

He also highlighted Taiwan's National Health Insurance system and the large volume of health data it has generated, saying that data, combined with technological advances, could help make medical care more precise.

He also cited Taiwan's passage of amendments to the Act for the Development of Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industry in 2021 and two regenerative medicine laws in 2024 as examples of efforts to establish a stronger legal framework for advanced medical technologies.

Belize's Ambassador to Taiwan Katherine Meighan, who also attended the forum, said the AI 3D medical imaging technology could enable faster, more efficient and accurate diagnoses that could save lives.

She expressed hope that Taiwan and Belize would deepen their healthcare cooperation, including through training and knowledge-sharing.

Meanwhile, National Taiwan University Hospital Superintendent Yu Chong-jen (余忠仁) said the hospital aims to complete an automated AI-powered 3D medical imaging system across the institution by 2028, with the technology to be used in areas ranging from planning complex surgeries to doctor-patient communication.

Mackay Memorial Hospital Superintendent Chang Wen-han (張文瀚) said advances in medical imaging technology have made it possible to create virtual representations of individual patients, helping doctors reduce operating times and surgical risks in complex cases.