2025-10-09

A strong alliance between the north and the south reshapes healthcare in Kaohsiung. National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), National Taiwan University (NTU), and the Kaohsiung City Government form a tripartite partnership and announce their commitment to upgrading and transforming the Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital by integrating NTU's extensive expertise in medical management with resources comparable to those of medical centers. The collaboration will introduce advancements in healthcare quality management, talent cultivation, and clinical skills training. NSYSU signed a teaching and research agreement with NTU for joint efforts in academic research and teaching, and professors and physicians from NTU's College of Medicine will be on secondment to NSYSU's College of Medicine to assist in enhancing the medical quality of Min-Sheng Hospital, thereby improving public health services for Kaohsiung citizens.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chi-Mai Chen, NSYSU President Chih-Peng Li, NTU College of Medicine Dean Ming-Shiang Wu, NTU Hospital Superintendent Chong-Jen Yu, and Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital Superintendent Fong-Dee Huang jointly signed the cooperation agreement.

Mayor Chen praised Min-Sheng Hospital for its long-standing contributions to the community. Beyond serving as a frontline teaching and emergency care hospital, it has shouldered major public health responsibilities, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was designated as an infectious disease response hospital by the central government. The hospital swiftly cleared wards to admit patients, established community testing stations, and provided vaccination services. It has also established initiatives such as the Flying Elephant Home (Min-Sheng Hospital Affiliated Residential Long-Term Care Institution) and HERO Center (Healing, Empowerment, Recovery Of chemsex) to care for children with special medical needs and support citizens of diverse gender identities, making it a vital pillar of Kaohsiung's public healthcare system. Chen expressed gratitude to NSYSU and NTU for bringing world-class medical management research and medical center resources to Min-Sheng Hospital, ensuring progress in upgrading healthcare services, strengthening teaching, and advancing research.

"NSYSU has always pursued excellence in teaching and research, and deep collaboration in clinical healthcare has long been one of our key goals," said NSYSU President Li. He emphasized that this partnership demonstrates how academia and government can jointly strengthen local healthcare networks. Leveraging its expertise in medical management, public policy, and healthcare administration, NSYSU will support Min-Sheng Hospital in institutional optimization, service process improvement, and quality management training. The university will also promote cross-campus and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the integration of clinical practice and academic research.

NSYSU President Li further noted that NSYSU's College of Medicine is actively advancing smart medicine and precision healthcare, strengthening next-generation interdisciplinary medical research, and integrating resources across southern Taiwan to enhance both clinical practice and healthcare capacity. The university remains committed to its mission of serving society and promoting health equity, aligning with the United Nations and Taiwan's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this collaboration, NSYSU hopes to support the city government in building a smart city and driving the growth of southern Taiwan's healthcare industry chain. With the policy support of the Kaohsiung City Government, the medical expertise of NTU Hospital, and NSYSU's academic innovation and governance, the tripartite alliance will lead Min-Sheng Hospital toward a new milestone, establishing it as a leading public medical institution in southern Taiwan and a strong guardian of Kaohsiung citizens' health.