TAIPEI: A 32-member group of medical tourists from Beijing is in Taiwan for health checks, spa treatments and sightseeing.

It's the second mainland group to visit Taiwan for medical tourism since last month.

The tour was organized by a health management company affiliated with Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital.

Hung Tzi-jen, vice-general manager of the management company, said in addition to the health checks offered last month, more services are offered this time around.

The group headed out on a sightseeing tour of Yangmingshan National Park shortly after arriving on Sunday at the start of a six-day visit.

The group was then taken to nearby Beitou in suburban Taipei to enjoy dinner and a spa at a hot spring resort.

Yesterday, 17 members of the group received PET (positron emission tomography) examinations at the Shin Kong hospital.

Each of them spent NT$35,000 ($1,060) on PET examinations, far cheaper than the equivalent of NT$50,000 they would be charged in Beijing, according to Hung, who added that other members will receive other types of physical checks.

Meanwhile, the health management company signed an agreement yesterday with Shin Kong and HNA Life Insurance Co - a joint venture between the mainland's Hainan Airlines Co and Taiwan's Shin Kong Life Insurance Co, Beijing's MJ Health Screening Co and Sweetime Hotspring Resort to promote visits to Taiwan by policy holders of the joint venture life insurance company and members of the health screening company, according to Hung.

Other medical tour groups from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Fujian are expected to arrive in August and September, Hung said.

In line with the administration's policy of promoting the globalization of medical services, the scope of medical tourism will be expanded, so that more mainland tourists are expected to be attracted to Taiwan, Hung added.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 07/28/2009 page2)