Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital honoured at Healthcare Asia Awards 2025

The hospital’s innovative screening programme is saving lives through early detection.

Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital, under the Chang Gung Medical Foundation, took home the Service Delivery Innovation Initiative of the Year - Taiwan accolade at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2025 for its outstanding work in early lung cancer detection.

Being one of the deadliest cancers in Taiwan, lung cancer survival rates rely heavily on early detection. Amongst those proven to reduce mortality in this regard is low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), yet accessibility and timely screening remain major challenges.

Through its participation in the Taiwan Lung Cancer Early Detection Program, Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital has successfully implemented a highly efficient and streamlined screening process that prioritises high-risk individuals based on family history and smoking habits.

This includes men aged 50 to 74 years and women aged 45 to 74 years with a parent, child, or sibling diagnosed with lung cancer. Those aged 50 to 74 with a smoking history of 30 or more pack-years, current smokers willing to quit, and former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years are included as well.

Patients visiting the outpatient department are routinely assessed for LDCT eligibility during pre-consultation enquiries; a dedicated smoking cessation counsellor provides resources and support whilst also facilitating LDCT screening for smokers; and nearby clinics can easily refer patients for lung cancer screening via a dedicated hotline.

Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital also worked with 42 local village chiefs to promote lung cancer awareness, distributing educational materials that encourage early screening.

These efforts have made lung cancer screening more accessible than ever, with most eligible individuals receiving an appointment within three days. From 2023 to 2024, 1,746 individuals were screened at the hospital, with 67.3% of participants referred internally and 32.7% referred through the physician hotline.

Results also show that there are 186 individuals (11%) diagnosed with abnormalities through the Lung-RADS system. Eleven cases of lung cancer were successfully identified, with 8 cases (73%) diagnosed at stage 1.

By combining rapid access to screening, community outreach, and proactive physician partnerships, the hospital is setting a new standard for lung cancer detection and prevention in Taiwan.

The Healthcare Asia Awards honours exceptional hospitals across the region that have redefined the standards of excellence in the industry through their innovative solutions and substantial contributions to communities.

The Healthcare Asia Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your organisation's remarkable initiatives and contributions to the healthcare industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].