Shin Kong Wu Ho-su Memorial Hospital in Taiwan and the Myanmar GI & Liver Foundation (GILF) held an online signing ceremony at 10:30 am Myanmar time on March 17, 2023. Dr. Hsu Jung-Hui (Dr. Tin Myo Zaw), Director of Shin Kong Medical Assistance Program to Myanmar Liaison Office, and Dr. Kyaw Soe Tun, President of the GILF signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Medical Cooperation; Ambassador Chung-Hsing CHOU, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar was invited to the GILF headquarters in Yangon to witness the ceremony.

Ambassador CHOU pointed out that Shin Kong Hospital became the Taiwanese hospital responsible for Myanmar under its government’s New Southbound policy since 2019. In the past four years, Sin Kong’s coordinators have successfully arranged for rare-disease patients to seek medical treatment in Taiwan, continued to implement its annual training programs, and been diligently maintaining close relations with Myanmar medical circles.

He added that GILF, as one of the representative organizations for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases in Myanmar, whose patron, president and members were invited to attend the 2022 Taiwan Health Expo and visited Taiwan’s major medical institutions and foundations, has since been actively sought further exchange and cooperation with its Taiwanese counterparts.

“TECO Myanmar is pleased to see the two institutions signing the MOU and wishes for success in future cooperation. We hope that Taiwan’s experience in medical and health development, through Shin Kong Hospital and through educational projects, training programs, joint research, seminars and other activities, will be able to help GILF’s efforts in improving the standard and quality of medical services in Myanmar,” said Amb. Chou.

According to GILF President Kyaw Soe Tun, the Myanmar GI and Liver Society (MGLS) was formed in 2002. It has been involved in the development of gastroenterology and hepatology, including holding seminars and international conferences and reviewing and publishing medical guidelines. In addition, free medical treatment, Hepatitis B / C testing and hepatitis B vaccination are also provided. MGLS does not receive donations from partner pharmaceutical companies.

To compliment the work of the Myanmar GI and Liver Society (MGLS), the GI and Liver Foundation was officially formed in September 2018, in order to cooperate more freely with international organizations, and to accept donations for expanding public awareness campaigns and public service projects.