Kuomintang Taichung mayoral candidate Chiang Chi-chen is courting support from the pharmacy sector, putting forward campaign policies on health governance and industrial upgrading that offer benefits to Taichung's pharmacists and young people.

• The Taichung pharmacy sector's support group was established today, with the Pharmacists' Association presenting steamed buns (baozi) and rice dumplings (zongzi), wishing Chiang Chi-chen a "bao-zhong" — a play on words meaning a guaranteed win in the election.
• Chiang Chi-chen pledged that, if elected, he would invite pharmacist representatives to take part in decision-making on the AI smart city and health governance, and would establish a dedicated "Long-term Care Department" and a "Women and Children's Development Committee."
• On the industrial front, he wants to transform the precision machinery park into a robotics manufacturing park, turning Taichung into the "robotics manufacturing capital of Taiwan" and creating more job opportunities for young people.
• Local pharmacy figures came out in support, including Lin Yi-chun, chair of the National Union of Pharmacists' Associations, and Hsieh Yung-hung, chair of the Greater Taichung Pharmacists' Association, calling on grassroots pharmacies to mobilise and canvass for votes.

Outlook: With grassroots mobilisation in the pharmacy sector taking shape, Chiang Chi-chen's campaign is playing the health and industry cards, and the strength of the Blue camp's subsequent get-out-the-vote efforts will be worth watching.