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​Nantou continues its journey toward becoming a livable and thriving county by expanding accessible dental care to rural communities.The Public Health Bureau of Nantou County Government, in collaboration with the Nantou County Dental Association and the Taichung Dental Association, has established the Ren'ai Township Jingying Village Dental Clinic Station and the Zhongliao Township Beizhongliao Dental Clinic Station. After more than four months of preparation and concerted effort, both stations were officially inaugurated on the 17th, marking a significant step forward in improving medical services in Nantou’s rural areas.

On the morning of the 17th, County Mayor Hsu Shu-Hua presided over the unveiling ceremony at the Jingying Health Station plaza in Ren'ai Township. Distinguished guests included Chang Yung-Min, Director-General of the Department of Oral Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW); Lai Ta-Nien, Special Commissioner of the Central Division of the National Health Insurance Administration, MOHW; Tung Cheng-Tsung, Committee Member of the National Health Insurance Committee; Su Yu-Hui, Vice President of the Taiwan Dental Association; Wu Shang-Shu, President of the Taichung Dental Association; Li Tai-Hsien, President of the Nantou County Dental Association; County Councilor Lin Ting-Li; Ren'ai Township Mayor Chiang Tzu-Hsin; Township Council Chairman Hung Wen-Chuan and Vice Chairman Chen Li-Hsiu; Lin Ting-Yu, Acting Director of the Indigenous Peoples Department, Nantou County Government; and Chen Nan-Sung, Director of the Public Health Bureau, Nantou County Government. Representatives from Legislator Ma Wen-Chun and Lu Hsien-Yi (Sasuyu Ruljuwan)’s office also attended. The ceremony was solemn yet dignified. Notably, resident dentist Dr. Lin Chuan-Kai, a son-in-law of Ren'ai Township, generously donated NT$500,000 to the township office to support local well-being.

Mayor Hsu emphasized that Ren'ai Township, characterized by its sprawling mountainous terrain and difficult transportation, is broadly divided into four areas: the Lixing, Qin’ai, Lushan, and Huzhu routes. To date, dental stations have been available in Wushe (Qin’ai Route) and Huzhu Village (Huzhu Route), with the Lixing Route supported by IDS services. ​Given that many dentists in the county are aging, the county government collaborated closely with the Nantou County Dental Association to secure vital manpower from the Taichung Dental Association. Additionally, the Ren’ai Township Public Health Center provided dedicated space at the Jingying Health Center for the new dental station, ensuring all residents have equal access to convenient oral health services.

Hsu further noted that the Public Health Bureau successfully secured NT$3.4 million in subsidies from MOHW, supplemented by NT$600,000 from county funds, for a total of NT$4 million to establish the two stations: the Jingying Village Dental Clinic Station in Ren'ai Township and the Beizhongliao Dental Clinic Station in Zhongliao Township. She expressed deep gratitude to MOHW for its strong support of rural oral healthcare, and thanked the dental associations for providing the professional manpower necessary to serve local residents. These efforts ensure better access to dental treatment, improve healthcare equity, and enhance the quality of life for township residents.

Director Chang remarked that he was honored to witness the inauguration of these rural dental stations. He emphasized that safeguarding the health and well-being of rural communities is a key policy of MOHW. He thanked the county government team for their dedication and cooperation with the central government, ensuring that national policies are implemented in every corner of rural areas. He also expressed appreciation to the dental associations for their manpower support in caring for the oral health of rural residents.