Taiwan’s SNQ National Quality Mark (SNQ) and the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) have signed a strategic partnership agreement. Announced at SNQ’s Asia-Pacific Healthcare Quality Conference, the alliance marks a major step forward in integrating Taiwan into the global healthcare quality framework.

The agreement was signed by Wei-Chao Chen, Chief Convener of the SNQ Review Committee, and Jennifer L. Bright, Chief Executive Officer of ICHOM, during a conference session titled “Advancing Quality through Technology, Smart Innovation, and Data.”

“Over the past 28 years, Taiwan’s healthcare sector has continuously elevated its quality and patient-safety standards through the SNQ framework, aligning itself with global best practices,” noted Wei-Chao Chen. “This partnership with ICHOM will allow us to share SNQ’s proven evaluation experience and methodology with healthcare systems worldwide, offering a practical reference model while boosting the global visibility of SNQ-certified clinical teams.”

Setting a Trusted Quality Benchmark with Over 2,900 Certifications

When Taiwan's biotech industry began booming in the late 1990s, the market was flooded with new products and services claiming therapeutic benefits—often without scientific backing. The absence of an independent quality-assurance mechanism left consumers concerned about safety and efficacy. SNQ was established to fill this gap.

Since 1998, SNQ has certified more than 2,900 medical services and products. It has also awarded approximately 20 National Biotechnology and Medicine Care Quality Gold Awards to world-leading Taiwanese clinical teams in specialized fields, including liver transplantation, intestinal reconstruction, craniofacial reconstruction, atrial fibrillation ablation, oral cancer treatment, and precision medicine for hypokalemia.

The SNQ Evaluation Framework

According to Deh-Ming Chang, Co-Chair of the SNQ Committee, the review panel brings together more than 160 medical center presidents and clinical experts. Using a rigorous framework based on the internationally recognized Structure, Process, and Outcome model, the committee evaluates and selects the most innovative, impactful healthcare teams.

Based on overall performance, awards are conferred at three distinct tiers. The bronze award recognizes contributions of national significance, while the silver award honors achievements capable of leading the Asia-Pacific region. The prestigious gold award is strictly reserved for teams that set definitive global benchmarks.

Shaping Global Clinical Guidelines

As Taiwan’s medical technology advances, a growing number of SNQ-certified teams are gaining international recognition, with several directly influencing global clinical guidelines. For instance, the SNQ-certified oral cancer team at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital achieved the world’s highest five-year survival rate, prompting the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) to revise its tumor staging standards.

In another major breakthrough, the genetic medicine team at National Taiwan University Hospital developed the world’s first gene therapy for AADC deficiency, which has since received marketing approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Additionally, a far-infrared vascular therapy developed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital has been officially incorporated into clinical guidelines by nephrology societies in both the United States and Europe.

The Rise of Smart Healthcare

Smart healthcare has become a primary driver of growth within the SNQ framework, accelerating digital transformation and measurable care innovation.

In Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026 rankings, 13 Taiwanese hospitals made the list. Notably, Taichung Veterans General Hospital ranked No. 85 globally. The hospital’s AI early-warning system, Zoe—built on the nation's largest critical-care database—was previously honored with an SNQ Silver Award, highlighting how the SNQ framework fosters high-impact smart care.

Exploring New Frontiers with Global Partners

Under this new alliance, SNQ and ICHOM will help healthcare institutions adopt patient-reported quality assessment mechanisms. The initiative aims to integrate patients’ subjective experiences into traditional medical audits, translating patient perceptions into quantifiable healthcare quality indicators. With this agreement, SNQ becomes ICHOM’s first strategic partner in Asia.

The collaboration reflects the growing global importance of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). Promoted heavily by ICHOM, PROMs are increasingly used by premier medical facilities worldwide. Furthermore, Newsweek has officially integrated PROMs into its World’s Best Hospitals ranking criteria, underscoring the shift toward patient-centered outcomes in global healthcare evaluations.

Global Medical Leaders Convene in Taiwan to Discuss AI-Era Trends

Held alongside the 2025 Healthcare+ Expo, the Asia-Pacific Healthcare Quality Forum brought together international medical leaders and healthcare executives to explore how AI and data-driven innovation are reshaping healthcare quality.

The forum featured high-profile speakers, including Professor David Bates of Harvard Medical School, who serves as a member of Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals selection committee. Representatives from the World Medical Association and the European Union of Private Hospitals also joined the panel, alongside delegates from top-tier institutions such as The University of Tokyo Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, and Stanford University.

Senior executives from Taiwan’s leading medical centers—including Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, and Taipei Municipal Guandu Hospital—also drove the discussions. Together, the participants analyzed the opportunities and risks of clinical AI adoption, concluding that patient-centered outcome measurements are vital to strengthening quality governance and improving long-term health system performance.