Taiwan has a very good health care system, with well trained staff and modern facilities in the majority of urban hospitals and clinics. The cost of the health care is equally split between the citizens and their employers and is heavily subsidised for the poor and the old. Patients are free to select the hospitals and there are generally no waiting lists. There are English speaking staff at hand in most hospitals. The life expectancy is 75 years for men and 81 years for women.