TAIPEI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- If Chinese mainlanders plan to visit Taiwan, besides joining tourist groups, traveling independently, or visiting for business, there is a new way officially effective Tuesday -- on medical trips.

People from the mainland are able to receive "high-end" physical examinations and cosmetic surgery in Taiwan through independent "medical trips," according to the island's health department, under an initiative forming part of the island's efforts to boost tourism and its medical industry.

Previously, well-off mainlanders seeking health checkups or plastic surgery in Taiwan only had access to such services on tourism permits, meaning their time was often inadequate for medical treatment. But that is set to change with the "medical permit."

A total of 30 facilities in Taiwan are qualified to offer medical services to mainland visitors. The approved hospitals are eligible to submit applications to Taiwan's "immigration" department on behalf of their potential mainland clients for entry to receive medical treatment on the island, a process which is "much more convenient and efficient," according to the island's health department.

Under the program, mainland visitors can stay in Taiwan for up to 15 days.

Alex Hung, president of Taiwan's Shin Kong Medical Club, one of Taiwan's largest medical facilities, told Xinhua that more and more wealthy or middle-class mainlanders prefer going to Taiwan for annual physical check-ups or to undergo cosmetology, which has prompted Taiwan's medical sector to seek business opportunities.

Members of the island's medical industry say they have advanced equipment and techniques, noting especially that they rival doctors in the Republic of Korea in the field of cosmetic surgery. The island also advertises its "high-end" physical examinations, which have much lower prices than those in Singapore.

A one-day "sophisticated" physical check-up for people above 30 costs about 26,600 New Taiwan dollars (886 U.S. dollars), according to Hung.

"Cross-Strait direct flights and other transportation conveniences have encouraged more mainlanders to receive medical services in Taiwan," Hung said, adding that more promotion is needed to really make mainlanders aware of what Taiwan's medical sector offers.

Hung even predicted one to two billion New Taiwan dollars in business scale gained from mainlanders receiving medical treatment in the island.

The 30 hospitals qualified to offer medical services to mainlanders are all first-class, and include the Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Veteran's General Hospital, Cathay General Hospital and Adventist Hospital in northern Taiwan, as well as several facilities in central and southern parts of the island, said the health department.

More small-scale hospitals and cosmetic surgery clinics are expected to be added to the qualified list, the department said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan authorities have also lowered the threshold for mainlanders visiting the island on commercial purposes. The turnover of Taiwanese inviters, usually companies, should be at least 100 million New Taiwan dollars, lowered from the previous 500 million, and mainland invitees must have turnovers no less than 10 million New Taiwan dollars, lowered from the previous 50 million.

This new standard is going to be effective soon, aiming to prompt more mainland businessmen to visit Taiwan and boost the island's tourism industry.