Ministry of Health and Welfare to Achieve National Interoperability for Electronic Medical Records Using FHIR Technology, Targeting Expansion by 2027

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The Ministry of Health and Welfare addresses a global challenge: the lack of interoperability among electronic medical record systems across various healthcare institutions. To solve this, they are promoting the development and adoption of 'Healthcare Interoperability Resource Standard' (FHIR) technology. Previously, patients or their families had to physically carry records—such as burned optical discs or photocopies—from one hospital to another during transfers. The new standard aims to eliminate this burden. MOHW explained that they developed a proprietary technique called FHIR BOX, which standardizes data codes from different hospital systems, thereby achieving interoperability for electronic medical records. This initiative is building a foundation for managing Taiwanese medical data in a unified format, positioning Taiwan as the second country globally (outside the US) to achieve national standardized data coding. The technology supports not only system linkage but also the development of smart healthcare using AI. Initial demonstrations are planned at three major medical centers (such as Chang Gung, Mackay, and Zhongshan). The goal is to integrate all medical centers across Taiwan by the end of 2026, with a final target of extending interoperability to regional and local hospitals by the end of 2027. This standardization is expected to support future applications like telemedicine and home healthcare, giving related equipment manufacturers international market value.