Hospital-industry agreement aims to advance surgical device innovation in Taiwan

醫院與產業界達成協議，旨在推動台灣外科醫材創新

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung’s Chung Ho Memorial Hospital and Taiwan Surgical Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to jointly develop domestically produced medical devices, aiming to strengthen the nation’s medical supply chain.

KMUH Superintendent Wang Jaw-yuan (王照元) said global supply chains for key medical materials have become increasingly unstable due to geopolitical tensions, contributing to price fluctuations and delivery delays. The partnership is intended to help Taiwan maintain a more stable and self-reliant medical supply system during periods of external uncertainty, according to CNA.

Under the agreement, frontline doctors will take part directly in the design and refinement of medical devices. Both sides said this approach is expected to improve clinical usability and shorten development timelines by incorporating real-world feedback earlier in the process.

The two partners also plan to integrate digital technologies to develop a smart minimally invasive surgery platform. The system is intended to enhance surgical precision and support the broader international competitiveness of Taiwan-made medical devices.

Taiwan Surgical Corp. Vice President Chen Jung-chien (陳榮健) said the company has end-to-end capabilities spanning research, development, and manufacturing. He said the collaboration will help build a structured clinical testing and feedback system, enabling continuous product improvements and higher safety standards.

Initial collaboration has begun across several surgical fields, including colorectal surgery, general abdominal surgery, and brain and nerve-related surgery. The teams are working on new surgical tools that can help doctors operate through smaller incisions, as well as AI-supported systems for minimally invasive procedures.