Lai advocates for university emphasis on war care.

News Article: Upgrade of National Defense Medical University Bolsters Taiwan's Military and Civilian Health Services

The National Defense Medical University (NDMU) in Taiwan underwent an upgrade on Aug. 1, with the goal of enhancing its battlefield trauma care training and boosting its competitiveness in faculty training, research capabilities, and global exchanges.

President William Lai, who attended the upgrade ceremony, emphasized the importance of the NDMU's role in supporting both military and civilian health needs. He highlighted the need for the university to continue training medical professionals who can serve beyond the military system and apply their skills to support the armed forces.

The NDMU, which houses Taiwan's only biosafety level-4 laboratory, is uniquely positioned to conduct crucial research in infectious diseases. This laboratory makes the NDMU a vital asset in disease prevention and control efforts.

The Tri-Service General Hospital, the teaching hospital of the NDMU, serves not only military personnel but also all citizens. This dual focus reflects the university's commitment to serving both military and civilian communities.

In terms of global exchanges, President Lai called for greater collaboration. However, no specific countries or partnerships have been mentioned yet. The NDMU has identified the United States, Germany, and Israel as potential cooperation partners for improving battlefield care and trauma training, exchanging experiences related to combat casualty care, advanced trauma life support, and military medical technologies.

The focus of these exchanges will be on specializing in battlefield medicine and trauma care. While no details have been provided about how these exchanges will be facilitated, it is clear that the NDMU aims to learn from other countries' military and medical education systems to further enhance its capabilities.

The upgrade of the NDMU is intended to better support Taiwan's military medical development and defense readiness, as well as bolster society's capacity to respond to crises. By enhancing its battlefield trauma care training, the NDMU is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of both military personnel and civilians in times of need.