PPP (Public-Private Partnership) refers to a collaborative model that combines the strengths of the public and private sectors to achieve common public policy goals. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s epidemic prevention system has seen both successful cases and controversies in public-private cooperation. Therefore, finding the most suitable PPP cooperation model for research and development in epidemic prevention in Taiwan and fostering industry-academia collaboration is of utmost importance.
The seminar invited experts from various fields, including PPP, healthcare, public health, and finance, to come together for in-depth discussions and dialogues. The event focused on three main themes: the application of PPP in the greater health industry, insights from the experience of hospitals in public-private partnerships for epidemic prevention, and the use of public-private cooperation in the New Southbound international medical program. Distinguished speakers included former Chairperson of the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), Li-Ling Wang, former Director-General of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Hsu-Sung Kuo, Dean of the College of Management at Taipei Medical University, Nae-Wen Kuo, CEO of Min-Sheng Healthcare System, Hung-Jen Yang, Vice President of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Wei-Chiang Lee, and Secretary-General of the Taiwan Private Hospitals Association, Ming-Yen Wu. Each speaker delivered a keynote speech and participated in panel discussions, offering valuable insights into the respective topics.
During his speech, Chairman Kuang-Shih Yeh of the Asia Pacific Public-Private Partnership Development Association (APPPDA) mentioned that the association has been dedicated to promoting ideas and introducing relevant laws and policies for over five years. However, their focus has mostly been on the public works sector. Through the collaboration with Yang Ming University in organizing this seminar, they have come to realize that PPP has been widely applied in the greater health industry for many years. Apart from the well-known cases of PPP application in hospital management and vaccine development, there are many other opportunities for PPP in the field of greater health. Especially in areas like long-term care and social welfare, where the burden may become heavier in the future, PPP can play a significant role. Chairman Yeh hopes that this seminar will be a starting point for greater health industry experts to understand how PPP has been used in public works and infrastructure projects. He believes that such knowledge will have a substantial impact on promoting the industry forward.
President Lin Chi-Hung of Yang Ming University not only shared the history of the university before the merger with the National Chiao Tung University but also highlighted the importance of PPP in the electronics industry. He emphasized that the development of PPP varies at different stages and currently, there is a need for new breakthroughs and progress in both concept and practical implementation. President Lin also pointed out that the introduction of technology, such as big data analysis, will contribute significantly to the new development of the greater health industry. This technology will play a crucial role in advancing the field and bringing about positive changes in the industry.
Chairman Chien-Hsien Chan of National Yang-Ming University shared his experience in promoting the restructuring of the healthcare system during his tenure as Director-General of the Department of Health. He delved into the concept of PPP, its evolution in Taiwan, and practical examples of its application. Furthermore, Chairman Chan addressed the controversies surrounding PPP in the health industry, such as unclear ownership between public and private sectors, and how to balance industrial value and social welfare, avoiding conflicts of interest and political interference. He proposed several suggestions, including establishing robust regulatory mechanisms to enhance the credibility of financial reports, implementing entry and exit mechanisms to ensure fairness and equal rights in cooperation, and setting clear short-term and long-term goals to achieve mutual benefits. Regular communication and consensus-building among stakeholders are also vital in achieving successful collaborations.
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