Former TMU President becomes Taiwan's new Minister of Health

Former Taipei Medical University President becomes Taiwan's new Minister of Health

Dr Wen-ta Chiu, most recently President of Taipei Medical University (TMU), was appointed Taiwan's new Minister of Health in February. 

Dr Chiu is a highly distinguished neurosurgeon, medical researcher, academic leader and public health advocate. He served as TMU President from 2008 to 2011. He is best known to the public for promoting legislation on motorcycle helmets, which prevented an estimated 30,000 deaths since its enactment in the 1990s.

As President of TMU, he led the successful growth of a world-class medical university and hospital, including doubling the size of the hospital to 3,000 beds. At the same time, he also served as Superintendent of Shuang Ho Hospital and as a professor in TMU's College of Medicine and College of Public Health and Nutrition. In addition, he was Superintendent of Wan Fang Hospital, Chief of Neurosurgery, Director of the Biomedical Informatics Center and Dean of the School of Public Health. 

As the new Health Minister, Dr Chiu will focus on the second-generation health plan, which was passed as an amendment to the National Health Insurance Act by the legislature in January 2011.