COMPAL donates Apache Wireless Handheld Ultrasound systems to a medical institution located in an offshore island

<Newsletter on 3/29/22>

Having been deeply engaged in the smart medical and biotechnology industry over the past few years, COMPAL held a donation ceremony under the witness of MOHW Vice Minister Dr. Shih Chung-Liang today (29th) and sent 79 “Apache Wireless Handheld Ultrasound systems” from Aco Healthcare, a subsidiary of the Group, to a medical institution on an offshore island. In order to fulfill its corporate social responsibility for medical care on the offshore island, COMPAL is willing to upgrade the medical equipment on Taiwan’s offshore islands and serve the local patients with innovative technology.

 

The donated Apache Wireless Handheld Ultrasound systems were developed and manufactured by Aco Healthcare, a subsidiary of COMPAL Group. With exclusive patented technology, Aco Healthcare independently develops and manufactures the most critical ultrasound probe modules, software and hardware systems, and image processing algorithms, which are all fully made in Taiwan. The systems are much lighter in size than traditional floor-standing ultrasounds, reducing the device to the size of a pocket. With the advantages of high mobility and the accessibility to wireless network connections, Apache Wireless Handheld Ultrasound systems enable telemedicine services, real-time image transmission, and rapid medical advice, making it a beneficial medical tool for offshore islands.

MOHW Vice Minister Dr. Shih Chung-Liang suggested, “Due to the geographical restrictions and limited transportation in tribal villages and offshore islands, it is not easy for local people to go out to see a doctor and it is even more so for bedridden patients who stay at home all the time. Telemedicine can make up for the inadequacy of medical specialist services while the care model of ‘outreach medical services’ becomes even more important.” In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is actively deploying digital infrastructure such as “digitalization in healthcare.” In 2019, the network bandwidth (up to 100M) of medical institutions in tribal villages and offshore islands has been comprehensively upgraded. In 2020, with the completion of digital infrastructure, ENT telemedicine specialist clinics were launched in tribal villages and offshore islands. In 2021, telemedicine was included in health insurance coverage. In response to the urgent needs of the local area, the Ministry of Health and Welfare further expanded and comprehensively promoted the deployment from 2021. In the future, under the loosening of the Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunication, specialties (such as cardiology, and gastroenterology) will be gradually added in addition to ENT. Thanks to COMPAL’s generous donation of handheld ultrasound systems that added value to the health care in tribal villages and offshore islands, local people have more opportunities for early diagnosis, better medical care, and the best benefits of mobile medicine and telemedicine.

 

Ray Chen, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at Compal, suggested, “Miniaturization of professional medical devices and stable wireless networking capabilities are the keys to telemedicine, as we can see in the Apache Wireless Handheld Ultrasound systems we donated this time. Through this donation, we also hope that more medical resources are introduced to the tribal villages and offshore islands of Taiwan, and we all do our best to improve local medical care.”