Kaohsiung Ruan General Hospital Chairman Ruan Zhongzhou Passes Away at 87

Ruan Zhongzhou, the chairman of Ruan General Hospital in Kaohsiung, has passed away at the age of 87. The hospital, a prominent medical institution in southern Taiwan for over six decades, confirmed the news, with Ruan's family expressing deep sadness and opting for a private farewell.

Ruan Zhongzhou was a distinguished figure in the medical field, recognized as an authority in digestive surgery. Beyond his clinical work, he also possessed qualifications as a forensic examiner. While he had recently experienced a minor stroke and was recovering well, his passing has come as a shock to the medical community, which has expressed widespread regret and sorrow.

Sources indicate that Ruan had been hospitalized in intensive care for approximately three months prior due to choking while swallowing. Despite the efforts of the medical team, he ultimately succumbed to his illness. The family and hospital are handling the funeral arrangements with discretion, with indications that a private family service will be held instead of a public one.

Ruan Zhongzhou, the third of four sons, came from a family with a deep-rooted medical legacy. He earned a medical degree from Taipei Medical University and pursued advanced studies in Japan, obtaining a doctorate from Toho University. The hospital's origins trace back to 1946 when his father, Ruan Chao-ying, established the Ruan Pediatrics Clinic. The institution expanded over the years, eventually becoming Ruan General Hospital. The family's involvement in the hospital has not been without its challenges, including past disputes over ownership and management that have drawn public attention.