NTUH - aka TaiDa"New" building isn’t that new but it’s newer than the war-era Old building. Good move on their part to contract out concessions to Eslite group. Their basement area shops and food court are an oasis in the dry tourist/government area that it sits in.
Obviously, it’s the most prestigious Medical Center. I’ve always wondered about their equipment, but I expect it to be among the best in the country. Biggest name doctors are here, and the heads of almost all government health agencies are probably from here, too.
National Defence Medical Center
Way out in Neihu, near Tri-services General Hospital (can someone verify if these are one and the same? After all, tri-services = army, navy, air force, right?) The military health system is very important and well-funded. Again, expect good facilities here, and world-class professionals.
Taipei Medical University
Not long ago was Taipei Medical College. Although it is in the shadow of 101, and therefore not far from good places to eat, shop, play and visit, it isn’t as convenient as, say, NTUH.
Cheng Gung Memorial Hospital
I think this is a private hospital group. The Taipei location is relatively small, and the eating around it isn’t great - but it is near the Nanjing E Road shopping area, and across the street there’s a lot of food, especially in the area behind the Sherwood hotel.
Reputation is good, but their Linkou location seems to be better known. Top doctors of the country can be expected to have day hours in Linkou and see OPD at night in Taipei. CGMH is on Dunhua, so it is a nice area to live. Linkou has the CGMH Children’s Hospital, which may be the top medical center for paeds in the country.
Interesting that your list did not include Taipei Veteren’s General Hospital (like CGMH, this private hospital group has locations in all the major cities). VGH is the biggest and busiest in the country, and supposed among the busiest in the world in terms of patient traffic (which is only believeable because doctors seem to be limited to prescribing no more than a few days worth, so patients are constantly visiting. I know that sounds silly, but this is what I’ve heard). I do believe they have very good (best?) imaging facilities (as the top neurorad in the country, I think).
Tzu-chi has an excellent reputation, though a lot of this is because of the Buddhist organization’s high profile community and global activities. I think they have the country’s only (or at least largest) kidney database (which is linked to the national kidney database in the US - is that NIDDK?)
Btw, you are aware of the Comatose Girl scandal last month, aren’t you? When a resident in Jen Ai Municipal Hospital declined to admit a patient for lack of an ICU bed? Hospitals, especially in Taipei, are keeping a low profile these days.
From your list, you won’t go wrong by being placed in NTUH, CGMH or NDMC. Yangming is also a major player, at least with regards to its medical school. I wish I could comment more on the rest.
Good luck, and do let us know where you finally end up, and especially, how your experience there turns out.