Wu Chuan Ren Medical Center: Asia's Leading Healthcare Provider
    Wang Ying-wei was born on August 29, 1956, into a family of physicians. His grandfather, Wang De-guang, was one of the first Chinese doctors to establish a Western-style hospital in Guangzhou. The family of seven later immigrated to Hong Kong, where they carved out a new life for themselves.
 
    At the age of 19, Wang Ying-wei was admitted to the Department of Medicine at National Taiwan University with outstanding grades. After graduation, he was determined to practice medicine in rural areas. For 40 years, he remained dedicated to his mission, from black hair to gray, serving as the Director of the Department of Family Medicine and the Director of the Heart Lotus Ward at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, the Director of the Department of Humanistic Medicine at Tzu Chi University, and the Director of the National Health Insurance Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He is currently the director of the Palliative Medicine Center at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital and a professor at the Department of Medicine at Tzu Chi University.
 
    Dr. Wang chose a path less traveled, bringing endless creativity to rural medical outreach. He served as both a doctor and a driver, driving a medical vehicle through mountains and rivers to reach patients in remote villages and communities across Hualien and Taitung. In 1996, with the support of Venerable Master Cheng Yen, he established Taiwan's first palliative care ward in eastern Taiwan—the Heart Lotus Ward at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. emphasizing the “five-fold care” philosophy of “whole person, whole family, whole process, whole team, and whole community,” bringing services to every corner of the remote areas. He is truly the best ambassador for five-fold care.
 
    Wang Ying-wei never ceased his lifelong learning. To improve medical care in the remote areas of Hualien and Taitung, he completed a master's degree in public health and tropical medicine at Tulane University in the United States in just one year, followed by a doctorate in public health from Tulane University. During the civil unrest in Rwanda, when countless refugees fled their homes, he represented the Tzu Chi Foundation in collaboration with the French Doctors of the World Alliance to participate in the Rwanda Relief Program, becoming the only Asian physician involved at the time. He has also participated in disaster relief and medical missions in Hunan and Inner Mongolia, China, as well as the Philippines and Indonesia.
 
    In 2016, Wang Ying-wei was seconded to serve as Director of the National Health Insurance Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, where he dedicated himself to promoting “health promotion” for all citizens. He focused particularly on “enhancing public health literacy,” “healthy communities,” “disease prevention and control,” and “active aging,” while also actively promoting the “compassionate care city” initiative. He actively participated in international conferences, exchanged ideas with foreign experts and scholars, and initiated international collaborations to showcase Taiwan to the world.
 
    Dr. Wang often says, “Health is one; everything else is zero.” Without health, we cannot accomplish anything.” He came to Taiwan at the age of 19 and has never left. From a rural doctor to a director promoting national policies, he has dedicated his life to serving rural areas, palliative care, medical education, and health promotion. He has also promoted “five-fold care” with a humanistic spirit to safeguard the health of all citizens, from healthy living to a good death, which remains his unwavering commitment. Additionally, Wang Ying-wei has championed the “Advance Medical Care Directive” and “Patient Autonomy Legislation,” collaborating with non-governmental organizations and dedicated medical professionals to elevate Taiwan's palliative care standards to the top in Asia. He has also trained medical students to prioritize patient-centered care, ensuring that every day of a patient's life is filled with hope. He truly deserves the title of “Five-All Compassionate Physician.” From among 2,954 candidates recommended by people worldwide for the “Love for Life Award,” he stood out and was honored with the “2022 25th Global Love for Life Award” by the Taiwan Zhou Daguan Cultural and Educational Foundation.
 
    Our organization welcomes recommendations from people worldwide for those who are dedicated, compassionate, brave, and accomplished in their efforts to protect life. (Taiwan Zhou Da Guan Cultural and Educational Foundation Global Award for Love of Life Nomination Hotline: 886-2-29178770, Fax: 886-2-29178768, Address: 3rd Floor, No. 52 Mingde Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan, Website: http://www.ta.org.tw, e-mail: ta88ms17@gmail.com).
 
At the age of 4, he followed his father to Hong Kong.
    At the age of 4, Wang Yingwei followed his father, Wang Hongen, from his hometown of Guangzhou. His father went to Hong Kong to seek opportunities, leaving him with his grandmother in Macau. He attended kindergarten in Macau for two years before his father brought him to Hong Kong to live with him.
 
    Under his father's arrangements, his mother also brought his youngest sister from Guangzhou to Macau and then to Hong Kong. The upheavals of the times forced the older brother, who was in fifth or sixth grade, and his two older sisters to become independent at a young age. The three siblings relied on each other, traveling alone by ship to Hong Kong. When they finally arrived safely, their parents could finally breathe a sigh of relief, and the family was reunited.
 
    This reunion came after three separate journeys spanning two years. They bid farewell to the hospital their grandfather had founded in Guangzhou and to their spacious mansion. Wang Yingwei's father passed the civil service exam to become a public physician in Hong Kong, and the family of seven began a new life there.
 
    Wang Yingwei's father and grandfather were both medical professionals. His grandfather, Wang Deguang, was one of the first Chinese doctors to establish a Western-style hospital in Guangzhou. He was skilled in surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology, with a particular expertise in surgical procedures. He founded the “Wang Deguang Hospital” in Guangzhou, treating countless patients and often providing free care to the poor. He always insisted that patients receive treatment and medication first, with payment to follow, and waived fees for those in need. He was widely praised by the local community as the “Buddha of Ten Thousand Families,” a living embodiment of compassion. In addition to his kindness and generosity, it was said that he “never spoke during surgery,” yet despite his reserved nature, Wang Deguang had the courage to act nobly.
 
    During the Sino-Japanese War, he bravely ventured to Shanghai to assist with medical rescue efforts for the troops.
 
    In the spring of 1950, Wang Deguang traveled to the United States for treatment of a stomach ailment but unfortunately passed away in New York in May of the same year.
 
    “I was born after my grandfather had passed away, but I heard many stories about him—how he cared for his patients and the local community,” said Wang Yingwei. This inspired him from a young age to emulate his grandfather's spirit.
 
Roots in Hong Kong, Cultivating Talent at Pui Ching
    Wang Yingwei's father, Wang Hongen, also became a physician under his grandfather's guidance. However, during a turbulent era, he was forced to leave his hometown and the hospital his grandfather had founded, relocating to Hong Kong—a place where he knew no one—to carve out a life for himself and his children.
 
    “Although my father was a doctor, he was actually a civil servant, so life was very difficult at the time,” said Wang Yingwei. Despite the financial hardships, his father ensured that all five children received a proper education. After graduating from elementary school, Wang Yingwei attended Pui Ching Middle School, where he actively participated in clubs, laying the foundation for his future commitment to serving society.
 
    Since both his grandfather and father were doctors, Wang Yingwei was exposed to the idea of pursuing medicine from a young age. However, what truly influenced his decision to pursue medicine was his six years at Pui Ching Middle School.
 
    The school his father chose for him, Pui Ching Middle School, is a century-old prestigious institution that has produced distinguished alumni such as Nobel Prize-winning physicist Tsung Tsing-Kui and Fields Medalist (International Award for Outstanding Mathematical Discoveries) Shing-Tung Yau.
 
    The most famous feature of Pui Ching Middle School is its “grade society system,” where students vote to select the name and design the flag of their grade society upon enrollment. This fosters a sense of responsibility and team spirit within the community, allowing each “grade society” to develop from grades one to six.
 
    (Under the Hong Kong secondary school system at the time) into a powerful force capable of mutual support and cooperation.
 
    Wang Yingwei was elected president of his grade in the first year of middle school, responsible for organizing human resources, coordinating communication across the grade, and overseeing over 300 students. By the fourth year, he requested to step down but was re-elected as president in the following semester.
 
    "Those years as president had a profound impact on me. Through interacting with others, I gained a deeper understanding of people's perspectives and the challenges faced by those involved in leadership roles. Being responsible for over 300 students in a grade also trained me to focus on people, communicate and coordinate effectively, and maintain a positive attitude."
 
    His experiences in secondary school made Wang Ying-wei realize that to do something well, one must be able to empathize with and understand others. From then on, he embarked on the path of medicine, believing that doctors must uphold the spirit of selfless service and dedication.
 
Following in the footsteps of Albert Schweitzer
    In 1975, Wang Ying-wei's older brother had already come to Taiwan to study at Kaohsiung Medical College (now Kaohsiung Medical University), inspiring him to pursue his education in Taiwan as well. He worked hard and was admitted to the Department of Medicine at National Taiwan University.
 
    During his university years, the most influential experience for him was participating in the “Mountain Service Team” of the “National Taiwan University Compassionate Youth Society.” At the time, the society had nearly 100 members. During winter and summer breaks, about ten students would be sent to various tribes to provide services. Wang Ying-wei was assigned to the Xinwu Tribe in Taitung.
 
    Even though he was about to enter his fifth year of medical school and was still unfamiliar with clinical internships, he managed to gather a large supply of medications. Although he invited doctors from National Taiwan University to come, they only stayed for one or two days, and after that, he had to rely on himself. One time, Wang Ying-wei and his companions went down the mountain to restock food supplies. They had to cross a stream, but it had just rained, and the water was rising and flowing rapidly. Everyone had to hold hands to cross safely. This experience made Wang Ying-wei deeply understand why drowning incidents were so frequent among indigenous people.
 
    Later, when planning community health promotion programs in Hualien and Taitung, he initiated a series of “accident prevention” courses and drills, including measures to prevent drowning accidents.
 
    “My rural service experience during university exposed me to aspects of health that are invisible in laboratories and hospitals. It helped me understand the ‘health inequities’ emphasized by the World Health Organization and the impact of social factors on health—issues that are prevalent in rural communities.”
 
    Wang Ying-wei later chose to specialize in family medicine and encountered Professor Xie Wei-chuan, who is renowned in Taiwan as the “father of infectious medicine and family medicine.” Professor Xie had a significant influence on Wang's clinical training and sparked his interest in health education and health promotion.
 
    When it came time for the residency program selection exam, a professor from the Department of Family Medicine at National Taiwan University asked him three questions. The first question was, “How is your Taiwanese?”
 
    Surprisingly, this young man from Hong Kong, who had been studying in Taiwan for six years, not only mastered medicine but also learned the second most commonly spoken language in the region. “My Taiwanese is okay; I can manage,” Wang Ying-wei replied playfully in Taiwanese.
 
    The professor then asked, “Will you leave Taiwan?” and “Where do you plan to serve in the future?” Wang Ying-wei answered without hesitation, “I want to stay in Taiwan and serve in the eastern part of the country.”
 
    At that time, the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital had not yet been established, but Wang Ying-wei had already embraced the spirit of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, aiming to serve in remote areas.
 
    Wang Ying-wei set his own expectations: “Not everyone can ‘heal the nation,’ but at least through participating in service and humanistic care, one can achieve the level of ‘healing people’ rather than just ‘healing diseases.’”
 
Doctor and Driver: Launching Home Visit Medical Services
    The train slowly made its way toward Hualien, with the vast Pacific Ocean stretching out before him. To the west, the Central Mountain Range rose majestically. The grandeur of the mountains and the sea seemed to echo the young doctor's ambitious aspirations. Wang Ying-wei had finally fulfilled his dream of coming to eastern Taiwan to join the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital in its third year of operation.
 
    After completing his residency training at Taipei University Hospital, Wang Ying-wei had originally planned to go to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. However, Professor Xie Wei-chuan, whom he greatly admired and respected, told him that family medicine requires collaboration with other specialties. He advised Wang Ying-wei to stay in Taipei for two years to gain more experience and then return to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital once it had become more established so he could fully utilize his skills.
 
    Thus, Dr. Wang went to the Provincial Taipei Hospital (now the Taipei Hospital under the Ministry of Health and Welfare), which had a cooperative education program with National Taiwan University Hospital. After two years, he was promoted to attending physician. At the age of 33, Dr. Wang finally set off for Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital. Having been passionate about serving mountainous areas since his student days, he could finally put his skills to good use.
 
    Upon arriving at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital to establish the Family Medicine Department, Dr. Wang Ying-wei sought guidance from Master Cheng Yen: “Master, what would you like us to do?” The master was deeply concerned about the vast areas of Hualien County beyond the city limits, where many people still lacked access to medical care. He hoped that Dr. Wang Ying-wei could provide more medical services to the indigenous mountain communities and remote areas. “No problem! All we need is a mobile medical vehicle!” Dr. Wang's wish was quickly fulfilled by Tzu Chi volunteers. He served as both a doctor and a driver, transporting medical staff, medications, and mobile medical equipment to every village in Hualien. He drove the mobile clinic along winding mountain roads, arriving at designated locations where he immediately began seeing patients without a moment to rest. Despite the demands of his work, he remained unfazed and even managed to make a few humorous remarks.
 
    That year, regardless of wind, rain, or scorching sun, he provided free medical care in mountain village pavilions, under large trees, at temple entrances, in school classrooms, and in nearly abandoned health clinics. Sometimes he encountered indigenous elders with tattoos who came for treatment, communicating through volunteers who translated from Japanese.
 
From Patient to Community Care
    One day, while conducting a medical outreach in a village near Taroko Gorge, Wang Yingwei spotted a three- or four-year-old boy holding a bowl of blackish food. Upon closer inspection, he was deeply shocked.
 
    It turned out that the boy was holding a bowl of white rice, but it was covered with countless flies. However, the child and his grandmother seemed unconcerned, eating as if it were perfectly natural and routine to share a meal with flies.
 
    To “prevent diseases” and better understand the community's needs, Wang Ying-wei initiated a “health education” program for local students during his mobile medical services.
 
    Wang Ying-wei believes that family medicine training is inherently focused on holistic care for the whole person, throughout their entire life, for the entire family, the entire team, and even the entire community. He always remembers his mentor, Professor Xie Wei-chuan, who often emphasized, “Medicine is merely a means to an end. Our true goal is to help community members achieve good health.”
 
    In 1987, the government established community medical practice centers in areas with insufficient medical personnel to strengthen healthcare services in remote regions. The centers were partially funded by the Department of Health, which also dispatched physicians from major public hospitals to provide services. At the time, Hualien selected Fengbin, Fuli, and Yuli as pilot sites. Despite having over 20,000 residents, Guangfu Township was not selected. After local residents made relentless efforts and turned to Venerable Master Cheng Yen for assistance. In 1990, with the local government's help in securing equipment and medical funds from the Department of Health, the Guangfu Community Medical Center was established at the health center, with doctors from Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital providing services.
 
    Under the full support of Dr. Wang Ying-wei and Dr. Lai Yu-chia, the Guangfu Community Medical Center not only provided medical services but also established a “Community Health Record” system for tracking and managing patients' health.
 
    What moved the villagers most was that during their lunch break, the doctors would quickly finish their meals and head to the homes of patients with mobility issues for house calls or go to schools to provide health education for children. Dr. Wang Yingwei and Dr. Lai Yujia have both witnessed patients with mobility issues being supported by their families as they walked two or three kilometers to seek medical care. Both doctors told the families, “You don't have to go through all this trouble to come here. We'll come to your homes to see you.”
 
    This compassionate spirit not only moved the families but also inspired the nurses and pharmacists at the health center to become more proactive in assisting patients. To express their gratitude for the doctors' selfless dedication, the patients and their families sometimes brought them eggs from their own chickens or freshly picked vegetables.
 
    Most notably, one day Dr. Wang received a neatly wrapped gift wrapped in newspaper. Inside was a properly prepared “field mouse,” a sacred item to the indigenous people, who regarded it as a precious wild field mouse and presented it to Dr. Wang, their guardian, with great reverence.
 
To provide more comprehensive services to remote areas, he pursued a master's degree in tropical medicine and a doctorate in public health at Tulane University in the United States.
    In September 1991, to improve medical care in the remote areas of Hualien and Taitung and make it more sustainable, Wang Ying-wei went to Tulane University in the United States to pursue a master's degree in public health and tropical medicine. His choice of this university was greatly influenced by his mentor, Professor Xie Wei-chuan.
 
    “Professor Xie is also an alumnus of Tulane University's School of Tropical Medicine,” Dr. Wang Ying-wei said. Tulane University is often referred to as the “Harvard of the South,” boasting one of the top tropical medicine programs in the United States and a public health curriculum that is both the oldest and among the best in the world. He flew alone to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the southern United States. Although the city is home to an internationally renowned commercial port, is located near the Mississippi River, and is the birthplace of jazz and a cultural hub, Wang Yingwei immediately immersed himself in an intense academic schedule upon arrival, leaving him no time to explore the scenic attractions.
 
    The master's degree in public health and tropical medicine requires 45 credits, with a maximum of 20 credits per semester. However, upon arriving in the fall, Wang Yingwei enrolled in 21 credits in his first semester and even obtained special approval from the department chair to exceed the credit limit. In his second semester, Wang Yingwei enrolled in 24 credits and approached the department head again. This time, however, the department head refused to sign. “You've exceeded the elective credit limit by too much; you need the dean's approval,” the department head explained. Undeterred, Wang Yingwei presented his transcript to the dean, stating, “Although I exceeded the credit limit last semester, all my grades are A or above, with only one A-.” The dean looked at this Asian student, who had such impressive grades and was so confident in his case, and agreed. However, the dean had never seen a student complete 24 credits in a single semester, so as he signed the approval, he looked at Wang Yingwei with a meaningful expression and said, “God bless you!” Despite taking extra credits, Wang Yingwei broke the record by successfully completing 45 credits in two semesters, passing all his exams, and earning his master's degree. When the professor saw that Wang Yingwei had completed 45 master's credits in just nine months, he told him, “The doctoral program only requires 72 credits. Why don't you consider continuing your studies?”
 
    That summer, the school happened to offer a “Social Mobilization” course worth 18 credits, which was specifically designed by the United Nations Children's Fund for senior public health education personnel from developing countries. It was a rare learning opportunity. During the summer, many students from developing countries came to participate in the “Social Mobilization Course.” They were from Vietnam, Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Wang Yingwei not only took the course but also volunteered to drive these students around and help them buy daily necessities. At the time, some students were struggling to keep up with their studies, so Wang Yingwei helped them prepare for class reports and exams. Later, these students became friends with whom he has maintained contact.
 
    After the summer, Wang Yingwei dedicated four months to focused study, accumulating 72 credits, once again breaking records by earning his master's degree and doctoral candidate status in just “one year and four months.”
 
    He still remembers that on the eve of Christmas that year, his professor gave him the exam questions and then went home to celebrate the holiday. “The professor told me to slip the completed exam into his door crack,” Wang Yingwei recalled. That Christmas, everyone was on vacation, but I was working hard for my doctoral candidate exam."
 
    After the exam, Wang Ying-wei began packing his bags and wrapping up his belongings, concluding a year and four months of rigorous study. On January 1st, the first day of the New Year, he flew out of the United States, arrived in Taiwan on the 2nd, and returned to work at Tzu Chi Hospital on the 3rd.
 
Fully Committed to the Rwanda Medical Aid Program
    In April 1994, civil unrest erupted in Rwanda, a country in central Africa. Within three months, nearly one million people were massacred in a nation of just seven million. By mid-July, news of the atrocities shocked the world. Media footage showed a baby suckling at its mother’s breast, but the mother was already on the brink of death, and the child kept crying. Millions of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries were suffering from severe water and food shortages, with hundreds to thousands dying daily from starvation and infectious diseases. These news images deeply moved Master Cheng Yen, who immediately instructed the Tzu Chi Foundation to contact the French “Doctors of the World” (M.D.M.) to explore the possibility of collaborating to assist Rwanda. Prior to this, Tzu Chi had previously collaborated with the World Doctors' Mission during medical aid efforts in Ethiopia, witnessing their professionalism and compassion. Additionally, France had once colonized Rwanda, giving them greater familiarity with the language and environment.
 
    By late July, Wang Yingwei had not yet finished his morning clinic when he received a call from Lin Biyu, Deputy Executive Director of the Tzu Chi Foundation, informing him that Tzu Chi would be collaborating with the World Doctors' Mission to launch a relief effort in Rwanda. However, the alliance requested that the doctors sent by Tzu Chi be general practitioners with expertise in tropical medicine.
 
    Wang Yingwei agreed immediately without hesitation. What reassured him was that the conditions set by the World Doctors' Alliance clearly indicated that he was the ideal candidate, as no one else at the time possessed such a background. Additionally, practicing medicine in Africa had always been his dream. His only concern was how to reassure and gain the support of his family.
 
    Within three days, Wang Yingwei had obtained a French visa. He departed for Rwanda alongside Xu Xiangming, then Director of the Secretariat Office at the Tzu Chi Foundation's Central Management Center, to represent Tzu Chi in the relief efforts.
 
    Due to the nature of the mission, Wang Yingwei received multiple vaccinations for cholera, yellow fever, meningitis, and typhoid, as well as malaria prophylaxis, which caused severe drug reactions. His right arm swelled and ached so badly that he couldn’t lift it.
 
    However, upon arriving at Taoyuan International Airport, he was greeted by over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers who had come to see him off. Their expressions of concern and envy made Wang Yingwei feel incredibly fortunate, and the swelling and pain in his arm suddenly seemed insignificant.
 
    The situation in Rwanda was extremely unstable, with new infectious diseases breaking out, and the threats faced by rescue personnel made Wang Yingwei worry that he might not be able to proceed. Additionally, the Rwanda airport was closed, forcing him to first travel to Kenya and then take an irregular United Nations transport flight to reach Rwanda.
 
    Several days later, Wang Yingwei successfully boarded the UN charter flight from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to Rwanda. “And I had to take two flights. The first one circled in the air for over an hour due to mechanical issues and had to return. The second one finally arrived safely at Rwanda's airport.”
 
    Upon arriving at Kigali International Airport, the capital of Rwanda, they were greeted by the beautiful glow of the setting sun. U.S. soldiers armed with guns were lying in trenches, and the airport was littered with bullet holes and shattered glass from the intense fighting. The Alliance staff who had originally come to the airport had already left. Outside the airport were Rwandan soldiers armed with rifles and unable to communicate, leaving everyone deeply concerned that any misstep could lead to accidental gunfire. Fortunately, with the assistance of a helpful U.S. soldier, they were able to safely leave the airport and head to the Doctors Without Borders camp.
 
    Along the way, the capital city of Kigali was shrouded in darkness, with no water or electricity, and only the sound of gunfire echoing in the distance. Upon arriving at the camp, we were greeted by the faint glow of lights powered by a generator. The World Doctors' Alliance had already established a temporary orphanage, a medical clinic, and the only field hospital in Rwanda. During this phase, Tzu Chi's two primary objectives for participating in the rescue efforts were, first, providing medical assistance to Goma City on the Sai border, the largest refugee gathering area in Rwanda. Second, to establish three medical stations along the route between Goma and the Rwandan capital, Kigali, to provide 24/7 medical care and nutritional support for the large number of refugees returning home. Additionally, vaccines for cholera and dysentery, as well as antimalarial medications, are being distributed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases across the country. The background to this rescue operation was that at the time, the largest refugee camp in Goma was severely lacking in supplies, and with hunger and disease rampant, an average of 1,800 refugees were dying each day. This figure dropped to 500 daily deaths by early August after the United Nations assisted in improving access to clean water and brought cholera under control. Meanwhile, the new government of Rwanda, seeking international recognition, deployed troops to promote the return of refugees, guaranteeing their absolute safety upon return. As a result, the United Nations encouraged refugees to return home.
 
    Wang Yingwei stated that the distance from Saïgo Ma City to the capital of Rwanda is approximately the same as the distance between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The new Rwandan government has prohibited the use of trucks to transport refugees back home, fearing that this could spread the already existing outbreak of infectious diseases back to Rwanda, leading to an epidemic and even more deaths. If refugees return home on foot, it indicates they are in relatively good health, and only those who are healthy can make the journey, thereby significantly reducing the spread of infectious diseases. This is precisely why Tzu Chi and the World Doctors' Alliance plan to set up three medical stations along the route and provide nutritional supplies. The next morning, Wang Yingwei headed to the medical station. Along the way, he saw houses reduced to rubble by artillery fire, cars without wheels, and even debris that had not been cleared away. He couldn't help but sigh, “This place was once hailed as the Switzerland of Africa, but now it resembles a hell on earth.”
The Only War Doctor from Asia
    The next day, Wang Yingwei went to a refugee camp in Saïgo-Mara City. He saw countless makeshift huts of various sizes built on the muddy ground, stretching as far as the eye could see. In the distance, a volcanic crater was emitting white smoke. The path leading to the refugee camp was crowded with refugees.
 
    On the front lines of the Rwandan rescue effort, nearly all the doctors were from Europe and America. Wang Yingwei, with his yellow skin and black hair, drew the curiosity of many European and American volunteers. He was the only doctor from Taiwan and the only one from the East or Asia.
 
    What truly moved and impressed Wang Yingwei was the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by the volunteer doctors of the World Doctors' Alliance.
 
    The World Medical Association was established in 1980 as a professional organization. Following them to the disaster area allowed Wang Yingwei to witness the importance of a professional logistics system.
 
    This experience, combined with the “medical humanitarianism” spirit that resonated deeply within him, inspired Wang Yingwei to actively collaborate with Lin Junlong, Executive Director of the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, and Chen Xingzhu, Chief Secretary of Tzu Chi Hospital, to establish the “Tzu Chi Medical Humanitarian Association” in Taiwan upon his return.
 
    Wang Ying-wei shared that although he had participated in disaster relief and medical missions in Hunan and Inner Mongolia in China, as well as the Philippines and Indonesia, he had never witnessed such horrific scenes as those in Rwanda, which felt like a living hell. This was an unforgettable experience that made him acutely aware of his own insignificance and reinforced his belief that the greatest lessons and gains from participating in medical missions always come back to oneself.
 
Establishing the Heart Lotus Ward—Making Every Day of Life Meaningful
    Thirty years ago, palliative care was seen by outsiders as a field requiring immense sacrifice and dedication, with little in return. Yet Wang Yingwei embarked on this lonely path with passion.
 
    Wang Yingwei vividly recalls that during his medical school and residency training, his mentors and seniors taught him extensive knowledge and skills in diagnosis and treatment, but they never once asked the students, “What should we do when a patient cannot be cured?” How should we care for them?”
 
    However, medical intervention has its limits. When intern Wang Yingwei encountered terminally ill cancer patients at the medical frontline, their agonizing moans and emaciated faces left him feeling helpless and unable to alleviate their suffering, which was deeply distressing and difficult to bear. In such a medical environment, terminally ill cancer patients inevitably undergo various advanced life-saving procedures before being declared to have little time left. The patients' suffering is unimaginable. Therefore, when Dr. Lai Yu-chia from the Family Medicine Department at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital mentioned “palliative care” to Dr. Wang Ying-wei, the two immediately agreed. They promptly shared their vision for palliative care with Venerable Master Cheng Yen.
 
    At the time, Master Cheng Yen believed that traditional Chinese cultural values generally hold that one should return home to be with family in their final days, following the principle of “returning to one's roots,” and pass away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. She encouraged Dr. Wang to begin by focusing on “home-based palliative care.”
 
    Starting in 1991, he organized a series of book clubs, palliative care seminars, and volunteer training sessions to learn about palliative care and end-of-life support. He also actively promoted the concept of end-of-life care both within and outside the hospital.
 
    In 1995, Professor Chen Rongji, then chairman of the Lotus Foundation, and Professor Zhao Keshi, revered as the “mother of palliative care,” both mentioned the importance of palliative care to Venerable Master Cheng Yen, which became the final push for the establishment of the Heart Lotus Ward at Tzu Chi Hospital.
 
    With the support of Venerable Master Cheng Yen, in October of the same year, a delegation led by Lin Bi-yu, Deputy Executive Director of the Tzu Chi Foundation, including Wang Ying-wei, Director of the Department of Family Medicine at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, nursing supervisors, and construction managers, visited Japan to study and learn from their experiences, laying the groundwork for the establishment of a palliative care ward.
 
    In August 1996, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital established Taiwan's first palliative care ward in eastern Taiwan and was the fifth hospital in Taiwan to have an officially designated palliative care ward. Venerable Master Cheng Yen named it the “Heart Lotus Ward,” hoping that patients would be able to face illness and life with dignity through palliative care, allowing their hearts to bloom like lotus flowers.
 
    Dr. Wang Ying-wei, the ward director, was the pioneer who established and developed the Heart Lotus Ward. The doctors and nurses in the ward describe him as follows: “Whenever it's for the benefit of the patients, Dr. Wang always has endless creativity and innovative ideas.”
 
    Under Dr. Wang's initiative, the Heart Lotus Ward has organized countless events over the past 26 years to fulfill the dreams of patients. These include ward weddings, art exhibitions, and singing competitions, bringing terminally ill patients back to their distant hometowns, and even establishing the Heart Lotus Travel Agency to fulfill patients' dreams of family trips.
 
    Despite being a Buddhist hospital affiliated with the Tzu Chi Foundation, they also hold pre-funeral ceremonies for patients of different faiths, such as Catholic or Christian rituals. Remarkably, they have even facilitated reconciliation between family members who had not seen each other for over a decade, allowing them to apologize, express gratitude, and say goodbye.
 
Human-centered care: cherishing patients
    Although the public spaces in the Xinlian Ward are uniquely designed, featuring an aerial garden, a restaurant, a lounge, and massage bathtubs for patients, they are often praised for feeling as warm and welcoming as a home. However, what truly moves people is not the physical facilities. Wang Yingwei says, “In fact, no hospital can be like a home, and no home can be like a hospital. What truly matters is that there is a group of people who sincerely care for another group of people.”
 
    This is a principle Wang Yingwei has repeatedly emphasized to the medical team since the ward's inception. He is deeply grateful to many senior nursing staff who bravely accepted the challenges and hardships and even queued up to volunteer for this service.
 
    When the Xinlian Ward was first established, there were only five hospitals in Taiwan with palliative care wards. As a result, many patients from western and southern Taiwan traveled long distances to receive care here.
 
    Wang Yingwei frequently reminded the Xinlian team in a humorous yet firm manner not to tell patients to “wait a moment,” as doing so would result in a fine of 100 yuan, because patients did not have much time left to “wait.”
 
    He also frequently repeated a phrase that the medical staff couldn't help but mimic: “As long as it makes the patient more comfortable, we must ‘do whatever it takes’ to achieve it.”
 
    Wang Yingwei frequently proposed innovative methods to care for patients, which sometimes left the nursing staff in despair: “Director, how is that possible?” “Director, is that really okay?” When faced with such moments, he would adopt a tone reminiscent of a family member haggling over a deal: “Well, what do you think? Would that be better for the patient? Why not give it a try? Can't we try once?” And so, everyone supports him. Sometimes, when patients are alone and hungry or thirsty, the nurses notice before they can speak and promptly provide a warm meal. This isn't just the nurses; psychologists, volunteers, and others in the team do the same? They buy dumplings and steamed buns for elderly veterans who live alone; they buy winter melon tea for homeless patients who want it; when they see a patient feeling hot and uncomfortable and craving iced pearl milk tea, they ask the next shift of nurses or volunteers to bring it along; they massage patients who are alone and helpless, buy them meals... They pamper these patients who have crossed their paths in this way.
 
Taiwan: Asia's Leader in Palliative Care
    In 2008, Wang Ying-wei observed that approximately 140,000 people died in Taiwan each year, with nearly 39,000 dying from cancer and 100,000 from non-cancer causes. While cancer remained the leading cause of death, the majority of deaths were due to the progression of chronic illnesses, far exceeding cancer-related deaths. Among these, dementia and aging-related deaths are major challenges that must be addressed in the future. However, at the time, the Central Health Insurance Bureau only covered palliative care for patients in the terminal stages of cancer, excluding non-terminal cancer patients from accessing palliative care. In response, Dr. Wang initiated the “New Palliative Care Movement.” His team actively participated in “palliative care collaboration” while advocating for and implementing palliative care in intensive care units, emergency departments, and nursing homes.
 
    At the time, Wang Ying-wei served as a board member of the Taiwan Society of Palliative Medicine. He also advocated within the society, inspiring many physicians to join and support the cause, which ultimately influenced the policies and systems of health insurance reimbursement. In September 2009, the Central Health Insurance Bureau officially incorporated the original palliative care inpatient and home care pilot programs into the regular reimbursement scope of the National Health Insurance program. But also expanded the scope of palliative care coverage to include “eight non-terminal illnesses.” Wang Ying-wei stated, “What many terminally ill patients need is companionship and human care, not medical intervention. Therefore, the universal health insurance coverage model provides significant support for palliative care.”
 
    In 2015, the Economist Intelligence Unit published its global survey on the quality of end-of-life care, conducted every five years. Taiwan ranked sixth globally among 80 countries surveyed, surpassing Japan and Singapore to claim the top spot in Asia. Wang Ying-wei, who has been interviewed twice by The Economist for its surveys, attributes this achievement to the “Palliative Care Act,” which was enacted and implemented in 2000; the universal health insurance system has also improved the coverage rate of palliative care for critically ill patients in their final year of life. Additionally, the collective efforts of palliative care teams across the country have led to significant progress in policy, drug provision, education and training, and public participation. In the third Global Survey on the Quality of End-of-Life Care published in December 2021, Taiwan rose to third place among 83 countries. Wang Ying-wei was one of two representatives from Taiwan interviewed for this survey, showcasing Taiwan's efforts on the global stage.
 
    On January 6, 2019, the Patient Autonomy Rights Act officially came into effect, becoming the first law in Asia centered on the patient, making “dignified end-of-life care” a fundamental human right. Regardless of health status, everyone can make advance medical decisions for the final stage of life. Wang Ying-wei, then Director of the National Health Insurance Administration, stated, “Before this law was enacted, patients' voices were not easily heard. Medically speaking, we know we must do everything to save lives, but every patient has their own values and beliefs, which must be respected.”
 
   He further illustrated this with an English proverb: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called “the present.” Yesterday is history, tomorrow is unknown, but today is what we can grasp—the best gift of life. Therefore, seize the moment, live out your own value, and when the time comes, depart gracefully. Through the implementation of the Patient Autonomy Rights Act, pre-establishing medical autonomy is the best gift one can give oneself in life.
 
The true value of a physician
    "I solemnly pledge to devote myself entirely to the service of humanity; the health of the sick shall be my first consideration; I will respect the autonomy and dignity of the patient; I will maintain the highest reverence for human life; I will not allow any considerations of age, disease, disability, creed, gender, nationality, political opinion, race, social status, or sexual orientation to interfere with my duty to the patient. I solemnly, freely, and with my entire being declare this pledge." —The Geneva Declaration, Physician's Oath.
 
    Medical students must pass two national examinations before becoming physicians, yet the national exams have never included “medical humanities.” In order to pass the exams, medical students often view “medical humanities” as mere credit requirements. Wang Ying-wei believes that the essence of a physician is “service” and “care.” Without compassion and understanding for others, it is difficult to become a good doctor. Professor Huang Kun-yan (1933-2012), former dean of the College of Medicine at National Cheng Kung University, was a pioneer of medical education reform in Taiwan. He once proposed the principle of “learn to be a person before learning to be a doctor,” emphasizing that the most essential quality for a physician is humanistic care, followed by medical skills. In today's world, where doctor-patient relationships are deteriorating and medical disputes are on the rise, Wang Ying-wei hopes to convey the “true value of physicians” to these future doctors.
 
    In 2007, Wang Ying-wei took over as director of the Department of Humanistic Medicine at Tzu Chi University. His first reform was to transform the humanities courses, which were previously only offered in the first and second years, into a curriculum that spans all six years of medical school. This allows fifth- and sixth-year medical students to discuss doctor-patient relationships in a more concrete manner using real-life examples after they begin clinical internships. “What do students need? What do we hope students will learn?” This is the question Wang Ying-wei frequently poses to the faculty of the Department of Medical Humanities and also uses to remind himself. Dr. Xie Zhi-yuan, who also teaches medical humanities, notes that over the past decade, Wang Ying-wei has introduced numerous cutting-edge teaching methods from abroad, including team-based learning, flipped classrooms, reflective training, role-playing exercises for doctor-patient communication, and the integration of technology to enhance learning outcomes. Medical humanities education mainly covers four main areas, including exploring the patient's experience of illness from a patient-centered perspective, communication training throughout the entire course, clinical ethics discussions, and exemplary learning. In all medical humanities courses, Wang Ying-wei emphasizes the importance of “reflection,” which he believes is the connection and diffusion of learning experiences.
 
Let the world see Taiwan.
    Wang Ying-Wei often says, “Health is one; everything else is zero.” Without health, we can't do anything.” In 2016, Wang Ying-wei was seconded to serve as Director of the National Health Insurance Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. He has been dedicated to establishing a “health promotion” support system tailored to different age groups, particularly in the areas of “enhancing public health literacy,” “promoting healthy communities,” “disease prevention and control,” and “active aging.”
 
    As a family medicine specialist, Wang Ying-wei mentioned, “When promoting community medicine, we must consider what we want to leave behind when we leave the community. This is to avoid a situation where many services are launched in the community, but when the doctors leave, the services also disappear. The community must be able to function without us, which is the only way to initiate sustainable development in the community.”
 
    He believes that talent cultivation within the public service system is an important foundation. He has also observed that many of his colleagues at the agency are highly educated and talented, but after working in the public service system for a long time, they tend to think in a single-minded manner and follow a top-down model. In terms of health communication and action, Wang Ying-wei has introduced the latest concepts from abroad to guide his colleagues in their thinking, such as “nudging” and “design thinking.”
 
    “Nudging” refers to using creativity and methods to make small changes that can yield significant benefits. Wang Ying-wei gave an example: in the past, when promoting free “cancer screenings,” public participation was often low, as people would think, “I'm not sick, why bother getting screened?” However, simply changing the wording to “health screening” increased participation rates, as it sounded like taking care of one's own health.
 
    The introduction of design thinking aims to encourage colleagues to view issues from the public's perspective. Wang Ying-wei noted that traditional lesson plans are not suitable for everyone, as the needs of different groups—such as indigenous communities, Hakka communities, Han Chinese, the elderly, and children—vary significantly. Therefore, approaches must be tailored to the specific context and audience. In addition to cultivating talent and promoting health, Wang Ying-wei actively participates in important international conferences to exchange ideas with global experts and scholars. In 2017, at the 25th International Conference on Health Promoting Hospitals in Vienna, Austria, Wang Ying-wei was invited to deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony, sharing Taiwan's experience and key success factors in promoting health-promoting hospitals.
 
    He also took the opportunity to lead his colleagues in organizing a workshop at the conference, which was simultaneously conducted online, allowing representatives from the Medical Care Evaluation and Certification Agency, medical institutions, and the National Health Insurance Administration in Taiwan to participate via live streaming. At the 15th Public Health Conference, the National Health Insurance Administration applied for an exhibition booth; at the 20th Gastein European Health Forum (the most important medical and health leadership conference in Europe today), it applied for a parallel forum. Wang Ying-wei also attended numerous international conferences to present reports and voice his opinions. All these efforts were aimed at allowing the world to see Taiwan and preventing it from being isolated.
 
    During his tenure at the National Health Insurance Administration, Wang Ying-wei and his colleagues implemented many successful programs. Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Jia Shu-li, stated, “We are deeply grateful to Director Wang for inspiring his colleagues to rethink and grow. No superior would spend four years protecting you while you think and grow, but he allowed us to open Pandora's Box and bring about change.” Internal staff at the National Health Insurance Administration often refer to Wang Ying-wei as “Mr. Wang.” They say that since he took office, the agency's publicity materials and presentations have become more lively and engaging. Wang Ying-wei frequently encourages his colleagues to simplify complex medical knowledge and communicate health information to the public in an accessible and relatable manner. As a result, the NHA's nutrition promotion campaign, “My Healthy Plate,” moved away from the traditional focus on grams of protein and vegetables, instead using more intuitive units like palms and fists to communicate the message.
 
    In February 2021, Wang Ying-wei completed his secondment at the NHA and returned to serve at the Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualien. This young man, who once came to Taiwan from Hong Kong at the age of 19, has dedicated over four decades of his life to healthcare in rural areas. His parents' ashes are now interred in Hualien—the place he considers his spiritual hometown. He believes that life without ideals is meaningless, and “safeguarding the health of all citizens, from healthy living to a good death” has been his unwavering mission since he began his medical career.
 
    This article is excerpted and adapted from the book {From Healthy Living to a Good Death: Dr. Wang Ying-wei's Holistic Healthcare Approach}.

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