Crossing Borders for a New Era in Medical Service Standards: Highlights from the 1st Asia Pacific Forum on Healthcare Quality

Recently, the 1st Asia Pacific Forum on Healthcare Quality took place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. This international event brought together healthcare leaders and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss how to enhance healthcare quality in a rapidly changing global environment. The forum emphasized the importance of cross-national collaboration to address the challenges faced by healthcare systems. The event, guided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was organized by the National Biotechnology and Medical Industry Promotion Association (IBMI) and the Research Center for Biotechnology and Medicine Policy. The theme of the forum was “Crossing Borders—Creating New Opportunities for Healthcare Quality Collaboration.” The forum highlighted three main themes: exploring global healthcare challenges, identifying opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, and examining strategies for regional collaboration, while also offering insights into the future of healthcare quality.

Challenges in Aging Populations, Unequal Resources, and Emerging Infectious Diseases vs. Opportunities in AI, Technological Developments, and APAC R&D

Dr. Ashok Philip, President of the World Medical Association (WMA), addressed the “Global Challenges in Healthcare Quality” in his keynote speech, highlighting the pressing issues facing global healthcare systems. He pointed to aging societies, unequal healthcare resources, and emerging infectious diseases as key challenges. Dr. Philip stressed the urgent need for countries to collaborate and create unified healthcare quality standards to tackle these global issues and ensure that healthcare services remain equitable and accessible to all.

Building on the discussion of global challenges, the focus shifted to the role of emerging technologies in addressing healthcare quality. David H. Freedman, a columnist for Newsweek, presented on “The Emerging Standards in Smart Healthcare Evaluation,” offering his insights into the future of healthcare through the lens of smart healthcare technologies. He explained how smart hospitals, leveraging AI and IoT, could improve patient safety, streamline medical processes, and lighten the workload of healthcare professionals. Freedman highlighted the Kimmel Pavilion at NYU Hospital, where the integration of electronic health records and real-time imaging has led to a fully digitalized, efficient healthcare model. However, he cautioned that the widespread implementation of smart healthcare faces hurdles, such as funding challenges, data privacy issues, and legal complexities.

Taiwan’s Innovative Practices: From SNQ Document Review, On-site Audits, and International Evaluation to International Collaboration

Taiwan took center stage as the host country, showcasing its leadership in healthcare quality improvement at the forum. Dr. Ming-Shiang Wu, President of National Taiwan University Hospital, highlighted Taiwan’s innovative healthcare practices. He focused on the SNQ (Symbol of National Quality) certification system, launched in 1998. This system has certified over 2,800 healthcare services in areas like clinical care, smart healthcare, and long-term care.

Dr. Wu illustrated the SNQ system’s impact by citing Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s work in oral cancer treatment. He emphasized that the hospital’s research outpaced that of MD Anderson Cancer Center in the U.S. This research has influenced international cancer staging standards. Additionally, Dr. Wu explained that the SNQ certification follows a three-stage evaluation process. It includes document review, on-site audits, and international assessments to ensure credibility and comprehensiveness.

Taiwan’s commitment to healthcare quality extends beyond its borders. In a notable example of international collaboration, Taipei Veterans General Hospital partnered with the Philippine Medical Association. This partnership promotes telemedicine technologies and supports remote areas in the Philippines. It provides vital medical resources and technical expertise. Thus, this initiative serves as a model for cross-national healthcare cooperation. It further solidifies Taiwan’s role as a leader in global healthcare improvement.

Asia-Pacific’s New Blueprint for Cross-National Cooperation: Establishing Unified MQIs and Promoting Case-Sharing Mechanisms

As the forum entered its second half, a panel discussion shifted the focus to collaboration opportunities and practical solutions for healthcare in the Asia-Pacific region. Moderated by Dr. Wui-Chiang Lee, vice-president of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, the session brought together experts from the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia to discuss strategies for developing Healthcare Quality Indicators (MQI) and creating a case-sharing mechanism across the region.

Jose Jr. P. Santiago, President of the Philippine Hospital Association, argued that standardizing healthcare quality indicators would help bridge gaps within the Asia-Pacific region, laying a strong foundation for future policy development. Paiboon Ekseangsri, President of the Thai Private Hospital Association, highlighted the importance of incorporating cultural differences and regional resources to ensure more equitable access to healthcare services. Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh, President of the Malaysian Hospital Association, shared insights from Malaysia’s successful integration of public and private healthcare resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. He called for deeper cooperation among countries to establish a shared platform for medical resources, emphasizing that such collaboration is crucial for improving regional healthcare outcomes.

Smart Healthcare: Making Medical Services More Accessible and Equitable for All Communities, No Matter How Remote

Smart healthcare emerged as a pivotal topic at the forum, highlighting its transformative potential in the Asia-Pacific region. David H. Freedman emphasized the significant role of smart healthcare, particularly in Taiwan and Thailand. These countries have robust data infrastructure and electronic health record (EHR) systems in place. However, Freedman pointed out that smart healthcare must prioritize data privacy protection and supportive policies. Such measures ensure safe and effective technology use. They are vital in building trust and ensuring technology remains secure and efficient.

Jose Jr. P. Santiago also emphasized the importance of telemedicine in improving healthcare access. This is especially critical in geographically challenging regions like the Philippines, made up of over 7,000 islands. Santiago explained how collaboration with Taiwan accelerated the adoption of smart healthcare technologies. This partnership helped bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility. By leveraging technology, smart healthcare can bring quality care to remote areas. Thus, it ensures underserved regions have better access to essential services. This collaboration demonstrates smart healthcare’s potential and highlights the value of cross-border partnerships in addressing regional challenges.

Cross-National Cooperation and Technological Innovation: Key Drivers for Building a Core Framework of Healthcare Quality

The forum marked a pivotal moment for healthcare quality cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the potential for transformative change. Experts agreed that establishing unified healthcare quality indicators and sharing smart healthcare technologies could elevate the region’s global impact. Taiwan’s SNQ (Symbol of National Quality) certification emerged as a central focus, with Dr. Ming-Shiang Wu, President of National Taiwan University Hospital, emphasizing its growing international recognition. This recognition strengthens Taiwan’s healthcare system and positions it as a global leader in improving healthcare quality, with ongoing efforts to integrate SNQ standards worldwide.

Experts from the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia echoed Dr. Wu’s call for deeper regional cooperation, stressing the need to harmonize healthcare quality indicators. Such collaboration is essential for creating a healthcare system that meets the diverse needs of the region. For example, Jose Jr. P. Santiago, President of the Philippine Hospital Association, argued that harmonization would close gaps between countries and enable more robust policy development. These efforts would not only improve healthcare quality but also serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges.

Nevertheless, experts recognized significant challenges, including unequal resource distribution, healthcare infrastructure disparities, and coordination issues. These obstacles hinder progress toward a unified healthcare system. Therefore, experts urged countries to strengthen cross-national investments and technology exchanges, ensuring that solutions align with each nation’s unique needs. Additionally, integrating regional cultural characteristics into healthcare solutions is crucial for their success.

Taiwan’s Determination to Turn Vision into Action

The successful hosting of the forum demonstrated the tangible progress being made in improving healthcare quality across the Asia-Pacific. More importantly, it laid the groundwork for future collaboration. With the continuous expansion of smart healthcare technologies and the growing emphasis on international partnerships, the region is on track to become a leading force in the global effort to enhance healthcare quality. As this momentum builds, the Asia-Pacific region is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of healthcare worldwide.

Author

Bernice Lottering