TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Former Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), a prominent political figure in Taiwan's third-largest political party, has been diagnosed with left kidney hydronephrosis and a left ureteral stone, necessitating a second medical visit under detention center guard on Tuesday (April 1). The serious medical condition, characterized by swelling of the kidney due to urine buildup, prompted detention authorities to arrange further specialized medical consultations and comprehensive examinations to ensure the former Taipei mayor receives appropriate healthcare while he remains in custody on corruption allegations.
Taipei Detention Center (北所), the facility where Ko is being held, confirmed his medical visit but declined to provide specific details about his condition, citing standard privacy protocols for detainees' medical information. According to exclusive reporting by TVBS News, Ko underwent diagnostic ultrasound examination at a local hospital, which revealed an unresolved urethral stone causing the significant blockage in his urinary system. The medical team has determined that surgical intervention is necessary, with the procedure scheduled for Wednesday to remove the obstruction and relieve the kidney pressure.
Ko has been held in pretrial detention since September last year in connection with alleged improprieties involving the Core Pacific City (京華城) development project and political donations cases that have shaken Taiwan's political landscape. His health deteriorated recently when he began exhibiting alarming symptoms including hematuria (blood in urine), persistent nausea, and vomiting – clinical signs that medical professionals consider indicative of possible kidney failure if left untreated.
The severity of these symptoms first prompted authorities to transport Ko to Taipei Hospital last Saturday night, where he received emergency medical attention for approximately two hours before being returned to the detention facility. Detention officials confirmed that Tuesday morning marked Ko's second hospital visit for his worsening condition, with the former chairman returning to custody by noon the same day. Throughout their limited statements, officials have consistently emphasized the confidential nature of Ko's specific medical condition.
In response to Ko's deteriorating health situation, detention center administrators have implemented a stringent monitoring protocol based on regular assessment of his physiological indicators, while medical staff have conducted thorough evaluations of his ongoing healthcare requirements during incarceration. After Saturday's initial hospital visit, medical professionals performed a comprehensive evaluation that determined Ko's condition had temporarily stabilized enough to permit his return to the detention facility without requiring extended hospital observation.
In their most recent update, detention officials indicated that despite the scheduled surgery, Ko's current physiological data readings remain within normal parameters, and he continues to participate in regular daily activities permitted within the confines of the detention facility as his health allows.
