Former president of New Taipei City's En Chu Gong Hospital, Dr. Chen Jung-chi, has been announced as the winner of this year's Chou Ta-kuan Global Love of Lives Medal.

Dr. Chen has played a vital part in the passing of the Hospice Palliative Care Act 11 years ago, and his lifelong contribution to the improvement of Taiwan's medical environment is indelible.

Holding this trophy weighing eight kilograms is the former president of En Chu Kong Hospital, Chen Rong-ji.

He is full of gratitude as for the past 17 years, he has made efforts to promote the home hospice care.

In 1991, Mackay Memorial Hospital was the first to introduce hospice care program.

In 1994, Chen a devout Buddhist, founded the Tzekuang Buddhist Society to help monks and other Buddhists go out peacefully at the end of their life.

He began to run a home hospice care program and in 2000 supported Hospice Palliative Care legislation.

His life long partner, Chou Chao-Fang was also a nursing director at National Taiwan University Hospital.

Chen also sought support from the current National Health Insurance Bureau and Council of Labour Affairs to reduce the heavy financial pressures on families.

Through it all they never gave up as they jointly worked to improve the overall medical environment.