Taiwan is to help promote medical tourism by relaxing visa restrictions.

On Thursday foreign ministry spokesman David Wang said the ministry has agreed to extend visas for medical tourists to up to six months on a case-by-case basis. Applicants can apply to enter Taiwan for medical purposes as long as they provide financial statements and medical documents.

The Taiwan government's plan to develop medical tourism will focus on areas in which Taiwan specializes, such as liver disease treatment, dental care, craniofacial surgery, and health check-ups.

The government said Taiwan has several advantages in medical care and prices. However it also said it must improve its foreign language proficiency and marketing skills to become a global heath care provider.