Taiwan's National Health Insurance advances WHO goal of universal coverage
Taiwanese Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung
By Kim Ji-soo
Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) program can serve as a global benchmark in universal coverage and provide valuable lessons in delivering high-quality, cost-effective medical care for all, said Chen Shih-chung,
Taiwanese minister of health and welfare.
The NHI Administration falls under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
As the NHI marks its 23rd anniversary, Chen said Taiwan's abundant experience can help the World Health Organization (WHO) realize its top priority of achieving universal health care around the world.
Chen said Taiwan looks forward to sharing its expertise when it takes part in the 71st World Health Assembly held May 21 to 26 in Geneva. The Assembly is the decision-making body of the WHO. “The NHI is based on the principle of leaving no one behind. All citizens and foreign residents are enrolled,” Chen said.
Taiwan has consistently expanded coverage over the years, in 2013 extending to all 60,000 prison inmates and then in 2017 to babies born in Taiwan to foreign residents.
The NHI users can access not only Western medicine, but dental care and traditional Chinese treatments as well.
The NHI also regularly introduces cutting-edge medications and treatments, including the addition of antiviral hepatitis C drugs for patients with advanced forms of the disease in 2017.
The NHI also adopted changes to deal with the rapidly aging population. A major step in this regard happened in 2013 with the launch of the second-generation NHI which included, among other changes, levying a 2 percent charge _ lowered to 1.91 percent in 2016 _ on supplementary income such as bonuses and stock earnings. The measure expanded the program's premium base while reflecting an individual's full income.
“While no national health insurance program in the world is perfect, Taiwan's model has been a resounding success and can serve as a reference for other nations,” Chen said.
janee@ktimes.com