The opening ceremony for the Collaboration Center of Health Information Application, Ministry of Health and Welfare – Chang Gung University Division and CGU Research Center for Health Data was held on the 26th of November. Distinguished guests including the political deputy minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare Dr. Tzou-Yien Lin, vice director from the Department of Statistics in the Ministry of Health and Welfare Ms Li-Hua Chen, president of Chang Gung University Prof. Chia-Chu Pao, vice director of the Office of Research and Development of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Dr. Qiong-Hui Lai, head of the Research Service Center Prof. Qi-Ren Zhang, along with several academics from Chang Gung University of Science and Technology and doctors from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital joined the ceremony to witnessed this meaningful historical moment.

After the opening ceremony, the participants had conversations and shared their views over tea. It was our pleasure to invite the vice director from the Department of Statistics Ms Li-Hua Chen to talk about the promotion and future development of the Collaboration Center of Health Information Application. The participants’ enthusiasm for the issues of health information application was evidenced by their lively discussion and many questions.

The new division in Chang Gung University is the 6th division established by the Department of Statistics in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Department of Statistics has established 53 databases across 14 categories, including the data of the millions from people who join the National Health Insurance Scheme, numerous health and welfare policies, along with data related to health investigation and medical care. The goals of the Collaboration Center of Health Information Application are to add value to health information and create an applicable database, so as to help policy makers formulate better health care policies, as well as to provide a source for academics and health care industry to better their research and development.

The new division in Chang Gung University is expected to provide a comprehensive database for researchers of Chang Gung Medical Group as well as to facilitate the relevant application process. The establishment of CGU Research Center for Health Data can promote internal research collaboration. With the combination of the vast database of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and the new center, Chang Gung University can take its basic and clinical medical research to a higher and more prosperous level.