Taiwan will go full throttle to develop its medical tourism sector from 2011, with plans to build five hubs around the island and an advertising blitz on the bid, a senior official says.

The island hopes to catch up with established players such as Thailand and Singapore and grab a greater slice of the global medical travel pie, which is estimated to be worth $40 billion and is growing up to 34 percent every year.

Given Taiwan's proximity to the mainland, the drive could draw away Singapore's potential mainland Chinese patients, who account for an increasing number of its medical tourists.