Taiwan Society of Cardiology: past, present, and future

The history of Taiwan Society of Cardiology (TSOC) can be traced back to 1960 when cardiovascular disease began emerging as a significant public health concern in Taiwan. The society was established by a group of visionary physicians with the core mission of unifying efforts in cardiology education, research, and clinical excellence. One of TSOC’s early impactful achievements was the establishment of Taiwan’s cardiology training system. Today, after completing six years of medical school and passing the National Medical Examination, aspiring doctors who are interested in cardiology need to undergo a two-year post-graduate training, followed by another two to three years of general internal medicine training. Only then can they apply for TSOC membership and embark on a two-year general cardiology fellowship programme at TSOC-accredited teaching hospitals. As of 2025, the TSOC comprises ∼2200 professional members dedicated to safeguarding the cardiovascular health of Taiwan’s 23 million people. In 1985, the TSOC launched its official peer-reviewed journal, Acta Cardiologica Sinica, which was indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) in 2010 and subsequently included in PubMed and other major medical databases. The TSOC has conducted numerous registry studies to understand the landscape of cardiovascular diseases in Taiwan.1 In addition, the TSOC also develops national guidelines tailored to the unique epidemiology, healthcare structure, and patient needs of Taiwan. Since the hypertension guideline was launched in 2010,2 the TSOC regularly published and updated more than 20 Taiwan-specific guidelines, covering prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and others. The TSOC joined the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) as a founding member in its inaugural year. In 1983, APSC Congress was held for the first time in Taipei, Taiwan and professor Nong Ting, one of the founding members and former president of TSOC, was elected to be the President of APSC. The TSOC went on to host another two APSC Congresses in 2007 and 2018, each drawing thousands of cardiologists, researchers, and industry leaders to Taipei and solidifying Taiwan as a hub for cardiovascular innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2025, professor Jiunn-Lee Lin, former president of TSOC, is elected as the new President of APSC, and 2026 APSC congress will return to Taiwan again in May. Taiwan Society of Cardiology has also forged enduring partnerships with the world’s most prestigious cardiac societies, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Taiwan Society of Cardiology became a member of ESC family in 2008. In 2014, ACC established its 30th international chapter in Taiwan. There are joint symposiums of TSOC with ESC (Figure 1) and ACC every year in the TSOC’s annual scientific meeting. In 2022, TSOC joined the AHA’s HF ASIA (Heart Failure Adherence to Science Implementation in Asia) programme, aiming to enhance the care quality of heart failure in Taiwan.3 These international collaborations are crucial for bringing global best practice to Taiwan and underscore TSOC’s unwavering commitment to global academic integration. The ESC participated in the 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting of the TSOC held in Taipei, Taiwan on 17–18 May 2025. Professor Filippo Crea (fourth from right), Editor-in-Chief of the European Heart Journal, delivered a plenary lecture on microvascular dysfunction. During the TSOC–ESC joint session, Professor Michel Komajda (fifth from right), former ESC President, spoke on the implementation of heart failure guidelines, while Dr Roberto Barriales-Villa presented insights into heart failure in genetic cardiomyopathies Leveraging Taiwan’s robust information technology sector and comprehensive database infrastructure of the National Health Insurance, the Taiwan government is encouraging hospitals to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into various aspects of medical care, including hospital operation, patient management, and smart medical solutions. Taiwan Society of Cardiology members recently developed AI-enhanced electrocardiography to optimize the workflow for managing ST-elevation myocardial infarction and identify patients at high risk of mortality.4,5 These works indicate a move towards real-world application of AI in Taiwan’s cardiology landscape.6 The TSOC is also actively champions AI literacy in its continued medical education programme. In addition to AI-focused symposiums in the 2025 annual scientific meeting of TSOC, the ESC President, Professor Thomas Lüscher, was invited to give a plenary lecture on ‘Clinical application of AI and machine learning in cardiovascular disease’. In Taiwan, the National Health Insurance is a mandatory government-run social insurance programme and provides health coverage for nearly the entire Taiwanese population. However, it’s tightened reimbursement policies have historically led hospitals to cut costs, resulting in long working hours for healthcare providers.7 Cardiology is not immune to this and existing workforce, including cardiologists, nurses and catheterization laboratory technicians, all face heavy workload. The Taiwan government is currently attempting to address this issue by increasing investment in the National Health Insurance and deploying smart technology to mitigate manpower shortage. Notably, in 2025, eight major hospitals in Taiwan have been recognized as the world’s best smart hospitals by Newsweek magazine.8 Nonetheless, effective incorporation of the smart technology into clinical practice still requires ongoing effort and adaptation. Through its rich history, strategic collaborations, and relentless pursuit of innovation, the TSOC continues to play a vital role in addressing these challenges in the near future. All authors declare no disclosure of interest for this contribution.