News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　On the morning of April 28th, a press conference was held to unveil the “NCYU College of Medicine Preparatory Office and Chinese Medicine Industry Innovation and Development Center” on the Lantan campus of National Chiayi University. Many guests of honor attended the unveiling ceremony, including Yi-Tsau Huang, Director-General of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui; Legislator Wang Mei-Hui; Kuan-Ting Chen, Political Advisor to the Executive Yuan; Wei-Jen Yao, Superintendent of Chia-Yi Christian Hospital; Yuan-Der Huang, Superintendent of Chiayi Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare; Yung-Chao Chan, Chairman of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Association; Hui-Hsiung Liu, Chairman of the Chiayi Society Confederation; San-Lang Tsai, Chairman of the Taiwan Association of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy Quality; Po-Jen Ku, Chairman of the Taiwan Alliance for Healthcare Excellence; and Su Chao-Qi, Chairman of the Taiwan Association of Clinical Chinese Medicine.

　　In recent years, to reduce dependence on imported Chinese medicinal herbs, the government has been promoting the standardized production of local medicinal herbs, scientification of Chinese medicine, and development of Chinese herbal health food and skincare products, and quality management policies for Chinese medicine. However, most Chinese medicine physicians in Taiwan mainly provide clinic services, and there is a severe shortage of clinical research and nurses with knowledge both in Chinese and western medicine. The establishment of NCYU College of Medicine is thus expected to cultivate research-oriented Chinese medicine physicians, enhance the research capabilities of Chinese medicine, and lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the Chinese medicine industry.

　　Since June of last year, NCYU President Han Chien Lin has led three vice presidents and a team of teachers from the College of Life Sciences to visit and consult with various parties. They have exchanged opinions and discussed cooperation opportunities for the establishment of the College of Medicine. According to President Han Chien Lin, Chiayi provides a fertile ground for training doctors, and NCYU is a century-old university boasting abundant teaching and research resources in the medical field, and exceptional geographical advantages. The university can contribute to medical services in the communities through cooperation with nearby hospitals. As there is a lack of a medical school in the Changhua, Nantou, Yunlin and Chiayi regions, a more balanced development of medical education is thus required. He believed that, with the support of more than 110,000 alumni and the eager hope of local residents, NCYU can create a medical school that connects medical institutions and industrial resources across counties and cities. The aim is to establish a platform for industry-government-academia-research cooperation, and transform the greater Chiayi area into a hub of smart technology and medical capabilities.

　　Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui indicated that the medical teams in Chiayi suffer from a want of a medical center or medical school in the region. Through the efforts of the industry, government and academia, she hoped that they could find a way out in the face of various difficulties. Since NCYU can create more value for Chiayi, she expected everyone to work together and create a more prosperous, livable environment for people in Yunlin, Chiayi, and Tainan.

　　According to NCYU Vice President Chen Rui-Chiang, who serves as Chairman of the College of Medicine Preparatory Office and the Chinese Medicine Industry Innovation and Development Center, NCYU provides a wealth of facilities for preclinical animal testing and verification, and teaching and research resources for training practitioners in breeding and planting Chinese herbal medicine, as well as a smart agriculture internship farm. In the future, the center will exert effort to enhance research in Chinese medicine, the traceability management, efficacy, safety, and quality control of Chinese medicine, and pharmaceutical administration. Moreover, through collaboration with the Plant Green Extraction Factory, dedicated to green processes and green cycle technology of (medicinal crop processing management), analysis and formulation of effective ingredients in Chinese medicine, determination of the Chinese medicine index components, and quality management of Chinese medicine preparations, the Center will help the Chinese medicine industry in Taiwan to meet the United Nations' sustainable development goals.

　　In addition to the unveiling of the College of Medicine Preparatory Office and the Chinese Medicine Industry Innovation and Development Center, representatives from Chinese medicine and biotechnology companies participating in The Great Health Industry Accelerator, hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs were also invited to join the event. In the future, through resource sharing with the Taiwan Association of Clinical Chinese Medicine and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, NCYU will help enhance innovative development of the Chinese medicine industry, as well as nurture holistic medical professionals and innovative health industries.