Taiwan Adventist Hospital – A Vegetarian Hospital with a Caring Mission, Part 1 of 3

Taiwan Adventist Hospital is one of over 170 healthcare institutions run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Protestant Christian denomination with approximately 25 million people attending weekly worship worldwide. The facility is Formosa’s first vegetarian hospital and was initially founded in Shanghai by the legendary vegetarian American physician, Dr. Harry W. Miller, before shifting to Taipei. Known as the “China Doctor,” this Seventh-day Adventist served as a medical missionary in China for almost 70 years. In the latter part of his life, he fundraised to help establish 20 Adventist hospitals in the Far East. “We follow the spirit of Jesus Christ in providing holistic care,” is Taiwan Adventist Hospital’s mission. Holistic care is a system that cultivates a harmonious relationship among patients, families, and medical professionals while addressing the needs of the body, mind, and spirit to achieve the attainment of optimal health. To further this Christian holistic care mission, the hospital has adopted the SHARE concept to provide patients and visitors with thoughtful and heartwarming service. The goal is to also deliver compassionate and professional medical treatment. Taiwan Adventist Hospital has been providing vegetarian meals since its establishment, reflecting the guidance of Ellen White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She greatly influenced church doctrines, particularly concerning health and diet. In medicine, it’s well known that prevention is better than a cure. Unfortunately, many people only begin to value their health after they become seriously ill. That is why the Taiwan Adventist Hospital promotes a vegetarian diet, along with a healthy lifestyle. The vegetarian recipes used at the Taiwan Adventist Hospital feature whole foods that are low in fat, salt, and sugar. Since these recipes are beneficial for disease prevention as well as aiding treatment and postoperative care, the hospital provides healthy vegetarian food not just to patients, but also to visitors.