Smart Healthcare Embraces International FHIR Standard to Build Digital 'Guo Guo Shen Shan'

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This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, highlights Taiwan's progress in medical digitalization. The event recognized 50 excellent applications using the SMART on FHIR technical standard, which is internationally recognized. Using this standard allows various medical software to be 'plug-and-play' on devices like smartphones, breaking down the limitations of traditional closed hospital information systems. Experts note that the core of the current medical ecosystem involves connecting medical services, clinical data, and commercial applications through international standards like FHIR. This is likened to creating a 'socket' within the electronic health record, allowing diverse apps to connect easily. The goal extends beyond mere IT implementation; it aims for 'data unification, rule unification, and application unification.' This means that regardless of which hospital a patient visits, necessary data can be instantly connected with authorization, eliminating redundant checks and the need to carry paper records. This accelerates the formation of a robust national health foundation. Furthermore, the government plans to transition from short-term project subsidies to a 'Data Economy.' This involves establishing market mechanisms where private entities take over operation while the government shifts toward a regulatory role. The selected apps cover diverse fields such as AI and clinical decision support, laying the groundwork for Taiwan's smart healthcare ecosystem expansion into international markets.