Lin Fang-yue (Chinese: 林芳郁; pinyin: Lín Fāngyù) is a Taiwanese cardiovascular surgeon, hospital superintendent, professor, and former health minister.
The China Post reported that as a former high school classmate of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), he was persuaded to join the cabinet "for old time's sake" and to help with the National Health Insurance system's financial difficulties,[3] while pledging that the department had no immediate plans to increase premiums.
Several members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) criticized him for his handling of the epidemic, among them caucus whip Yeh Yi-ching (葉宜津) who called for Lin's resignation.
But on September 24, Lin's DOH, following standards in other countries like the United States,[5] cleared milk products for sale that had trace amounts of the industrial chemical.
Lin resigned two days later, saying, "The Department of Health's decision, made for efficiency's sake, caused misunderstandings and shattered consumer confidence.