News Room

Taichung Veterans General Hospital, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health (Nauru), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Taiwan), has been dispatching resident doctors and mobile medical teams to support Nauru for the 13th year, demonstrating unceasing care and love through health care. In 2021, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international flights were greatly reduced or canceled, and it was not easy to board connecting flights to Nauru from Taiwan. But the three Veterans General Hospitals and the Tri-Service General Hospital nevertheless dispatched four resident doctors to support Nauru, completing 1,710 outpatient visits and 66 family visits. They also made 66 home visits and received 156 referrals and consultations from local hospitals, earning the respect and trust of locals.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, it is not easy to refer patients from Nauru to other countries. Thankfully, as a diplomatic ally of the Nauru, Taiwan has effectively controlled the epidemic domestically. In order not to delay the treatment of the patients, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) and the Ministry of Health (Nauru) facilitated the first direct medical flight for the patients and their accompanying family members to Taiwan in the history of Taiwan-Nauru diplomatic relations. In 2021, 104 patients and 58 accompanying family members have come to Taiwan, with 3,347 hospital visits, of which 54 patients have successfully completed their treatment and returned to Nauru, further bolstering Taiwan’s reputation for quality medical care.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, faulty or broken dialysis machines in Nauru could not be sent for repair or new machines purchased. The Taichung Veterans General Hospital lent a helping hand and donated 4 dialysis machines to meet local needs for dialysis patients. On Dec. 2, the Nauru Minister of Health posted a message on Facebook thanking Taiwan for the donation of 4 dialysis machines.
Taichung Veterans General Hospital and tech companies have also jointly donated hand-held diagnostic sets and telemedicine systems. A launch press conference was held on December 17, with the presence of Ambassador of Nauru to Taiwan his excellency Jarden Kephas. In the future, the Taichung Veterans General Hospital will use telemedicine technology to provide more complete treatment and post-referral evaluation to Nauru patients.