The Medical Association for indigenous People of Taiwan (MAIPT) was initiated by Dr. Dong Sen (an indigenous Paiwanese doctor from Mudan Township of Pingtong) more than 20 years ago. But it was finally established and formally registered in 2003, at the Taipei Medicine University. In 2003, there were about 80 members. Twenty principle supervisors were elected at the first meeting. Professor Yin-ching Ko (a Han Chinese medical doctor, currently the vice president of the Kaohsiung Medical University) held the chairmanship during 2003-2004. In 2005, Dr. Ching Feng Lin (an indigenous Amis medical doctor, currently the vice chairman of Bali Psychiartric Center) was elected as the chairman. Dr. Lin passed his chairmanship to Professor Weng-Ching Chung (a Hakkanese, currently the honorary professor of the Taipei Medical University) in 2006. In 2007, Dr. Kao Cheng-Chih (an indigenous Paiwanese medical doctor, currently the director of Chin-Fong Township clinics) was elected as the Chairman. Currently, there were about 100 members in MAIPT.The main goals of the Medical Association for indigenous People of Taiwan are 1) to support academic researches on indigenous peoples of Taiwan, 2) to promote the exchange between the MAIPT members and other international organizations focused on the health issues of indigenous peoples and 3) to organize meetings in related to the health of indigenous peoples.
Other than the regular annual member meetings, MAIPT had organized the following meetings:
In 2003, “the Austronesian indigenous peoples healthy forum”
In 2005, “the chairman meeting of the health organization of the Austronesian indigenous peoples”
In 2006,” the Pan-Asian international meeting for public health and epidemiology”
In 2007, MAIPT had finally obtained support and started the health promotion program in the indigenous tribes.
