Taoyuan: The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office announced Tuesday that it had indicted a Filipino couple and their two nieces for alleged violations of the Physicians Act, accusing them of illegally practicing dentistry in Taiwan while entering the country on visa-free tourist status. The indictment marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat unauthorized medical practices in the region.
According to Focus Taiwan, the case originated in August 2023 when the Taoyuan City Department of Public Health received a tip-off regarding foreign nationals suspected of engaging in unauthorized medical activities. Initial inspections led to the discovery of a Filipino woman practicing at the scene, who was subsequently referred for further investigation by health authorities.
A thorough investigation conducted by a dedicated task force comprising prosecutors, police, and public health officials unearthed that the primary practitioners were a Filipino husband and wife team. The woman initially found was identified as their niece. The couple reportedly had been entering and exiting Taiwan multiple times, delivering unauthorized dental treatment to migrant workers from February 2023 until August 2, 2023, at a location on Linsen Road in Taoyuan District.
Despite being discovered, the couple continued their operations at a new location on Zhonghua Road in Taoyuan's Zhongli District from September 2024 until April 17, 2025. On April 17, prosecutors conducted a raid and discovered the couple along with two other individuals performing various dental procedures, including brace adjustments, teeth whitening, denture fittings, and drug injections.
During the raid, authorities confiscated NT$299,500 (US$9,978) in alleged illegal income, alongside an assortment of medical equipment and devices. Additionally, 20 patients were reported to be waiting for treatment at the time of the operation. Following court approval, all four individuals were placed in detention, as confirmed by the prosecutors office.