Chiu Wen-ta

Chiu Wen-ta 邱文達
Minister of Health and Welfare of the Republic of China
In office 23 July 2013 – 3 October 2014
Deputy	Lin Tzou-yien, Tseng Chung-ming
Vice	Shiu Ming-neng
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Lin Tzou-yien (acting)[1] Chiang Been-huang
Minister of Department of Health of the Republic of China
In office 8 February 2011 – 22 July 2013
Deputy	Lin Tzou-yien, Tseng Chung-ming, Shiu Ming-neng
Preceded by	Yang Chih-liang
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	21 July 1950 Miaoli County, Taiwan
Nationality	Republic of China
Alma mater	Chung Shan Medical University University of Stanford University of Pittsburgh Nihon University

Chiu Wen-ta (Chinese: 邱文達; pinyin: Qiū Wéndá) is a medical educator in the Republic of China.^[2] He was the Minister of Health and Welfare (formerly the Minister of the Department of Health) of the Executive Yuan in 2011-2014.^[3][4][5]

Chiu in the Legislative Yuan

Chiu and Kathleen Sebelius

Early career

Prior to joining politics, Chiu had served extensively at the Taipei Medical University. He began his career in 1985 as a lecturer, associate professor and end up as professor of the School of Medicine. In 1993, he became the dean of the School of Public Health and administrative deputy superintendent at the Taipei Medical University Hospital. In 1997, be became the superintendent of the university's Wan Fang Hospital. In 2000, he became the dean of the Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control and the vice principal in 2004. In 2008 he became the superintendent of the university's Shuang Ho Hospital as well as principal of the university.^[6]

ROC Department of Health Ministry

2013 H7N9 flu virus outbreak

Chiu during the 2013 H7N9 flu virus outbreak.

In early April 2013 during the H7N9 flu virus outbreak, Chiu gave a statement on behalf of the ROC Department of Health that they have classified H7N9 virus as category five notifiable disease. He also added that the department will raise the quarantine alert of the virus from Grade 2 to Grade 3. He also appointed Chang Feng-yee (張峰義) as the Director-General of the Centers for Disease Control.^[7]

ROC Health and Welfare Ministry

Ministry of Health and Welfare renaming from Department of Health

During the opening ceremony of the newly renamed Ministry of Health and Welfare from Department of Health on 23 July 2013, Chiu said that he looks forward for a society free from poverty and illness, and to foster maximum well-being of the Taiwanese people.^[8]

Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co cooking oil scandal

Responding to the scandal regarding the adulterating and mislabeling of cooking oil made by Chang Chi Foodstuff Factory Co. in October 2013, Chiu said that he will take full responsibility for cracking down on the 'black-hearted' food suppliers.^[9]

Resignation

Chiu resigned from his ministerial position on 3 October 2014 as a political responsibility due to the tainted lard oil scandal that had hit Taiwanese food industry which began in early September 2014. He ensured that there were no longer substandard lard oil products on shelves in Taiwan and that all of the responsible parties had been handed over to the prosecutor's office. He announced his resignation during a press conference at 8:00 p.m. held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Chiu said that he would return to his to his previous neurological research field.^[10][11]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wen-ta Chiu.

• Ministry of Health and Welfare (Republic of China)
• Healthcare in Taiwan

References