Eda Hospital: The Invisible Mother Ship Controlling Eda Group's Three Major Businesses

Eda Hospital, a prominent medical center in southern Taiwan slated for upgrade to a top-tier medical hub in 2025, functions as more than just a healthcare provider. Its asset portfolio includes substantial stakes in core Eda Group enterprises, notably Yieh Phui Enterprise, Yieh United Steel, and Yieh Loong Steel. This intricate web of shareholdings effectively makes the hospital the 'invisible mother ship' steering the conglomerate.

According to Eda Medical Foundation's latest financial report, it holds a 24.2% stake in Yieh Phui Enterprise, recognized through the equity method. Additionally, it possesses significant stock in Yieh United Steel and Yieh Loong Steel. These three companies are central to the Eda Group's steel manufacturing and operations, underscoring the hospital's deep integration into the group's industrial backbone.

Beyond its direct steel investments, Eda Hospital also holds shares in various listed and unlisted companies, including Wei Chiao Investment Development and Tang Rong Iron Works. This complex cross-shareholding structure solidifies the hospital's role in maintaining the Eda Group's stable management and control under the Lin Yi-shou family.

In contrast to institutions like Chang Gung Medical, which receive billions in annual dividends to support hospital operations, Eda Medical's dividend income is notably small. In 2025, it received only NT$404,000 in cash dividends, a sharp decrease from NT$14.9 million in 2024. This fluctuation is attributed to the cyclical nature of the steel industry and dividend payouts from unlisted investments. However, through the equity method, Eda Medical recognizes its proportionate share of profits from Yieh Phui Enterprise, contributing approximately NT$96.25 million in 2024 and NT$35.68 million in 2025 to its book value.

Despite these investment dynamics, Eda Hospital's core medical business demonstrates strong profitability. In 2025, its medical revenue reached NT$12.807 billion. After deducting medical costs (approximately NT$10.834 billion) and operating expenses (around NT$1.462 billion), the hospital generated an operating profit of NT$510 million from its medical services.