On Thursday, November 6th,  the International Medical Services Industry Forum 2009 was held at the World Trade Center in Taipei, Taiwan. Representatives from a number of different countries were in attendance at the event, which was sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council ( TAITRA).

The opening remarks were made by speakers from the Bureau of Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Department of Health, and the Executive Yuan. The first keynote speech centered on the development of cardiac care in Taiwan, with a case study of Cheng Hsin General Hospital by Dr. Jeng Wei, the director of the heart center at Cheng Hsin. The second speech addressed the competitive advantages of plastic surgery in Taiwan, and was given by Dr. Yuen-Bih Tang, the director of plastic surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital.

After a short break, Dr. Gan Se Khem, the executive chairman of Health Management International gave an excellent speech on the strategic marketing of medical tourism in Asia. Finally, Dr. William Shwetzer from Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort gave a presentation on the integrative medical resort in Thailand.

The four-hour conference was very informative and well-attended. Formosa Medical Travel representatives were in attendance to answer questions presented by the hospitals and clinics that were present, as well as address the emergence of the American medical tourism market in Taiwan.