Four Filipinos indicted for illegal dental practice in Taiwan

Taoyuan, June 3 (CNA) The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office announced Tuesday that it had indicted a Filipino couple and their two nieces for alleged violations of the Physicians Act, accusing them of illegally practicing dentistry in Taiwan while entering the country on visa-free tourist status.

The case stemmed from August 2023, when the Taoyuan City Department of Public Health received a tip about foreign nationals suspected of unauthorized medical practices, according to the office.

Upon inspection, a Filipino woman was initially found practicing at the scene and was referred for further investigation, the office added.

A subsequent investigation by a task force of prosecutors, police and public health officials revealed that the actual practitioners were a Filipino husband and wife, while the woman initially found and referred for investigation was their niece.

The couple reportedly entered and exited Taiwan multiple times and provided unauthorized medical treatment to migrant workers at a site on Linsen Road in Taoyuan District from February 2023 until Aug. 2, 2023, when they were inspected by the public health department.

After being discovered, they resumed operations at a site on Zhonghua Road in Taoyuan's Zhongli District from September 2024 until April 17, 2025.

On April 17, prosecutors led a search operation and found the couple and two other individuals performing dental procedures such as brace adjustments, teeth whitening, denture fittings and drug injections.

Authorities seized NT$299,500 (US$9,978) in alleged illegal income, along with various medical equipment and devices. At the time of the raid, 20 patients were reportedly waiting for treatment.

All four individuals were placed in detention following court approval, according to the prosecutors office.