Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday said the newly upgraded National Defense Medical University (NDMU) should further enhance its training in battlefield trauma care. Speaking at a ceremony marking the school’s elevation from the National Defense Medical Center, Lai emphasized the importance of greater global exchanges to help NDMU specialize in battlefield medicine and trauma care.

According to Focus Taiwan, international cooperation will allow the university to learn from other countries’ military and medical education systems. This approach aims to apply those lessons to not only support the armed forces but also strengthen society’s broader capacity to respond to crises. Notably, NDMU is Taiwan’s only institution with a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory, making it a crucial asset for infectious disease research and prevention.

Lai highlighted the university’s unique position, tasked with both military duties and medical responsibility. He stressed the importance of training medical professionals who can serve beyond the military system. Addressing the role of the Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei’s Neihu District, the university’s teaching hospital, Lai stated that it was established to serve both military personnel and the broader citizenry’s health needs.

The elevation of NDMU was officially recognized on August 1. The Ministry of National Defense noted that the upgrade aims to enhance the university’s competitiveness, faculty training, and research capabilities to better support Taiwan’s military medical development and defense readiness.