NTU Jinshan Branch Long-Term Care Building Breaks Ground, President Promises Completion and NT$100 Million Subsidy

(CNA, reporter Cao Yayan, New Taipei, July 9) President Lai Ching-te attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new long-term care and medical complex building at National Taiwan University Hospital Jinshan Branch today. He thanked local and central governments for their active cooperation in promoting long-term care policies and pledged on the spot that if the project is completed before the Lunar New Year of 2029, the central government will provide a subsidy of NT$100 million.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the "New Construction Project for the Long-Term Care and Medical Complex Building" at NTU Hospital Jinshan Branch was held today. President Lai, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, National Taiwan University President Chen Wen-chang, NTU Hospital Superintendent Yu Chung-jen, DPP Legislator Su Chiao-hui, KMT Legislator Hung Meng-kai, and Venerable Abbot Guo Hui of Dharma Drum Mountain were all present to witness the event.

Dr. Tsai Chao-hsun, superintendent of NTU Hospital Jinshan Branch, presented a briefing. The new building is planned to have six floors above ground, providing dormitories, a residential long-term care facility, a kitchen, and more. After five failed bids, the project proceeded with construction by reducing the scope of the contract. There is currently a funding gap of nearly NT$100 million, for which a subsidy is being requested from the government. The new construction project is expected to be completed in February 2029 and officially opened in August.

President Lai said in his speech that as a son of the North Coast, he returned to Jinshan today with deep gratitude and expressed his sincere thanks to the NTU team. The North Coast has historically had insufficient medical resources, making it inconvenient for local residents to seek medical treatment. The local community has long hoped for their own hospital. He thanked Cheng Yu-lu for donating approximately 1900 ping of land, which has enabled the smooth progress of the new hospital construction plan.

President Lai stated that in addition to 108 beds for residential long-term care, the new building will also include a health examination center, a rehabilitation center, and a smart geriatric medicine center, which will greatly benefit long-term care services in Jinshan, Wanli, Shimen, and Sanzhi. Regarding the subsequent construction funding for the hospital, the President pledged on the spot that if the project can be completed on schedule before the Lunar New Year of 2029, a subsidy of NT$100 million will be provided.

The President also mentioned that the construction funding for Jinshan Branch mainly comes from the community relations funds of the First and Second Nuclear Power Plants. However, as these two nuclear power plants have ceased operation, there are no funds to support it. The subsequent related funding of approximately NT$1.333 billion will be fully covered by the central government, so "Mayor Hou (Yu-ih) need not worry, the central government will pay for it all."

The President also thanked New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih in person for actively promoting long-term care services under the central government's policy. Before former President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, New Taipei had only 60 long-term care sites; this year, the number has increased to 1,887, a 31-fold increase. Long-term care policies require cooperation between the central and local governments, as well as the joint efforts of industry, government, academia, and research sectors to implement them.

Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated in his speech that rural medical care needs everyone's help, and health centers alone are not enough. Therefore, he is very grateful for the assistance provided by the NTU team. They will continue to work hard, and New Taipei City Government's subsidies for rural medical care "will certainly not be lacking." As long as he is in office, he will continue to provide subsidies and will also instruct his successor to continue them. The city government has a responsibility to fight alongside NTU Hospital. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150709

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