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COVID-19 has been with us for just three months, however the world as a whole is already reeling from various lockdown measures such as the closing of borders and strict stay-at-home orders inside countries. Hospitals have become the epicentre of lockdown areas and medical demand continues to grow exponentially, in line with the growth of the pandemic. Other than patients with chronic diseases who require medical resources regularly, many people with symptoms of coughing and a fever who have not been officially tested positive for the virus are worried that they'll be infected if they go to a hospital. Therefore, even if Taiwan's hospitals and clinics are within close proximity of people’s homes and are easily accessible, in many ways they can feel very far away. So, the solution? Telemedicine - as it reduces the risk of infection to patients and medical staff alike and, by association, helps to control the costs of infection.

According to a survey undertaken by Global Market Insights, the global market value of telemedicine will increase from US$38.3 billion in 2019 to US$130.5 billion in 2025. That’s a stunning composite average growth rate of 19.2 percent. The pandemic may be causing windows of opportunity all over the world to close, but telemedicine offers a rare window of hope for the whole world. Taiwan is able to integrate strategic advantages in information, communication, and medical strength and is therefore exclusively equipped with the potential to help develop the global telemedicine industry. Our goal is to combine AI with big data in order to improve upon current medical information systems and image analysis.

The telehealth industry includes telehealth management, telehealth nursing and telemedicine. In terms of telehealth management, Leadtek Research Inc., which is a Taiwan Excellence enterprise, has created its “amor physical and mental health management platform“ based on a wearable bracelet which is used to monitor personal data like sleeping habits, fatigue levels, blood circulation, and a physical stress index. The comprehensive information it collects enhances knowledge of AI risk prediction, individual health patterns, and allows for personalized suggestions to boost self-health management.

In terms of telehealth, nursing, health evaluation and improved exercise routines, the smart system developed by Netown Healthcare Experience is the first in the country to integrate detailed training data, like muscle atrophy evaluation and muscle coordination, in a single machine through AI smart exercise prescriptions. It is highly effective in reducing the risk of disability in seniors. “The Rightest Precision Health Combined Care Circle”, created by Bionime Corporation, collects and analyzes electronic data through digital health service stations and converts it into easily readable information charts. This powerful telecare nursing service provides professional medical hospitals and clinics with ideal solutions for institutional care management, as well as follow-up care outside the institutions.

As for telemedicine, the “Horus Scope Digital Handheld Tonometer” developed by Medimaging Integrated Solution Inc. is available to both physicians and optometrists. Its purpose is to facilitate the production of electronic medical records through digital photography or video recording. The image can be transmitted to the physician remotely for diagnosis reducing any need for one-to-one contact. Another innovative product is the point-of-care analyzer developed by iXensor Inc. which interprets glycated hemoglobin and blood fat in fingertip blood samples through the front lens of a mobile device. It takes only three minutes before the data is uploaded to the cloud and the patient’s medical record system simultaneously, thereby allowing medical and nursing personnel to make diagnoses rapidly and without the previous limitations of distance. This demonstrates enormous value for the future of telemedicine, not only during this pandemic period.

Taiwan has been at the forefront of global COVID-19 prevention efforts. Through the full support of the government, transparent information exchange, industrial capability, and the combined effort of medical professionals, Taiwan has been able to showcase its strength in the medical industry. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council will continue to promote all aspects of the medical industry in Taiwan and will hold a "Taiwan International Medical and Healthcare Exhibition" at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2 October 15-17. Taiwan Excellence will also lead award-winning businesses to participate in the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Laboratory Equipment Exhibition in July, ASEAN Senior Care & Wellness Expo in Malaysia in August, and MEDICA in Germany in November, to assist domestic manufacturers in expanding their business opportunities across the globe.