Sun Microsystems Powers Asia’s Largest Smart Card-Based Health Card Project
05 September, 2002
category: Health
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ –Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW) today announced the successful deployment of
Java Card(TM) technology and Sun network solutions by the Bureau of National
Health Insurance of Taiwan (BNHI). The BNHI has started to roll out
22 million Java Card technology-powered IC (Integrated Circuit) health cards
to Taiwan citizens in July, replacing its original paper-based system. This
new smart card will bring substantive time and cost savings to the BNHI.
The IC health card rollout marks a major milestone in the technology
advancement of health services in Taiwan. There are multiple stages in this
project such as ongoing infrastructure upgrades, public education and
acceptance of the new card system. “We will employ the latest technology to
ensure a smooth transition and operation for both health professionals and
card users,” said Louis Liu, General Manager of Department of Planning and
Evaluation of BNHI. “To this end we are working closely with the public and
healthcare providers to anticipate the future needs of card users and to
respond quickly to different user scenarios,” added Mr. Liu.
TECO Electric & Machinery Co. Ltd. (TECO), a leading smart card systems
integrator in Taiwan, implemented the US$115 million IC health card project
mainly to reduce medical costs and to encourage usage of the card by
facilitating both card and reader production. “TECO highly values the benefit
of partnership with a technology and network solutions provider like Sun
Microsystems. The key to the success of this project relied on seamless
systems integration skills in complex environments supported by a highly
flexible and secure platform to meet the rigorous needs of multiple medical
functions,” said Kung Pu Chang, Vice President and National Health Project
Director for TECO.
Java Card technology is certified by the BNHI and meets their stringent
security requirements and is thereby considered as an approved solution for
secure digital identity. In order to meet its business critical need to
support 5,000 simultaneous users on a highly reliable and secure system, TECO
also selected the Sun Enterprise(TM) 10000, 4500, 3500 and 450 servers, and
the Solaris(TM) operating environment.
Java Card technology enables multiple applications to co-exist securely on
a single smart card. The IC health card will deliver secure, value-added
services to card users in any place, and at any time. Java Card is an open and
proven technology currently deployed worldwide in industries such as financial
services, government and telecommunications; well-known for its security,
interoperability, multiple application capability and adherence to open
standards.
“We are pleased that the Taiwan government has selected Sun’s end-to-end
network solutions and Java Card technology to meet their mission-critical and
sophisticated needs in this large-scale health insurance card implementation
project,” said Daniel Yu, Corporate Vice President of Global Sales Operations,
Sun Microsystems Greater China. “Java Card technology allows card issuers to
dynamically modify the services and applications on the card as the user’s
needs change, without incurring additional costs to replace the card. This
will provide the BNHI with the flexibility to adapt to future needs in the
years to come,” added Mr. Yu.
Sun’s network solutions provide optimal reliability, scalability,
flexibility and performance at a low total cost of ownership (TCO). Sun’s
Enterprise 10000 server is an important part of the corporate data-center
world, where high-end servers anchor mission-critical IT operations. “The
Taiwan BNHI joins the ranks of many governments worldwide that have chosen to
issue smart identification cards based on Sun’s proven Java Card technology.
With more than 200 million Java cards deployed worldwide, Java Card technology
is the platform of choice for multi-application smart cards,” said
Jonathan Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Software, Sun Microsystems Inc.
This project is considered to be one of the largest Java Card
technology-powered smart card deployments worldwide. The rollout of all
22 million healthcards is expected to finish by May 2003, just 25 months since
the project commenced. The IC health card contains a microprocessor with
32 kilobytes of memory. Important data recorded on the card can only be
accessed when the security key codes of both the doctor’s and patient’s cards
are mutually authenticated to avoid privacy violation. The cards are produced
by a joint venture factory owned by Teco and German smart card supplier
Giesecke & Devrient, using chips from Hitachi and Infineon.
About Bureau of National Health Insurance of Taiwan (BNHI)
Since 1995, BNHI was officially established and it is chartered to bring
better life quality relevant to health issue to all citizens of Taiwan by
launching adequate programs. In preparing for the demands for the real time
information in 2lst century, BNHI possesses a mission to devote to the
betterment of existing health program as well as to equip Taiwan’s medical
industry with advanced gear in the face of technology transformation.
About TECO Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd.
TECO has started out as an industrial motor manufacturer since 45 years
ago. Over the years, it has successfully diversified into a conglomerate with
worldwide business operations. TECO is not only renowned as a leading heavy
electrical industrial brand, but also as a leading manufacturer of home
appliances, telecommunications equipment, IT systems, electromechanical
components, and commercial electronics.
Besides, TECO is also committed to the medical information system,
e-commerce and service industry, which including the investment in food and
beverage business. Recently, it participates in the High-Speed Railway BOT
project and the Taiwan National Health Insurance IC card project that promotes
TECO into cross-industrial corporation. TECO group has about 30 subsidiaries
and affiliations across Asia, America and Europe, and the total employee
amount is over tens of thousands. For further information about TECO, visit
http://www.teco.com.tw .
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision – “The Network Is The
Computer(TM)” – has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a
leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that
make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the
World Wide Web at http://sun.com .
NOTE: Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Enterprise 10000, 4500,
3500, 450 servers, Solaris and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other
countries.
CONTACT: Jessica Tsai of Sun Microsystems Inc., +866-2-2730-4806, or
Corina Ulescu, +1-408-276-6159, or [email protected], both of Sun
Microsystems, Inc.; or Rebecca Lui of Citigate Cunningham Inc.,
+1-408-252-6278, or [email protected], for Sun Microsystems Inc.