`Chen's premiers' host power lunch

Premier Yu Shyi-kun had lunch with his predecessors, former premiers Tang Fei (唐飛) and Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), as well as 68 other former and incumbent Cabinet officials and their spouses at the Armed Forces Officers Club in downtown Taipei yesterday.

In addition to complimenting both of his predecessors' contributions to national stability after the peaceful transfer of power, Yu said that he owed personal gratitude to both Tang and Chang.

"I wouldn't have had such a smooth start if it wasn't for the foundation laid down by my predecessors," Yu said. "I myself learned a lot while serving as Tang's right- hand man. I felt as if he was a hen leading a chick."

Chang said yesterday's meeting was meaningful because it was the first of its kind after the transfer of power, thanks to the stable political climate.

"It's like a relay race," Chang said. "Tang ran the first leg which didn't last long but was a good start, I received the baton to continue the unfinished work," he said. "Now under Yu's leadership, I anticipate seeing Taiwan become a better and more prosperous place."

Tang was the shortest-serving premier in Taiwan's history, serving only 137 days in office.

The 70-year-old stunned the public both when he decided to head up a DPP Cabinet as a 48-year member of the KMT, as well as when he resigned over his conflicting stand with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) concerning the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (核四廠).

Meanwhile, Yu announced yesterday that the Cabinet will back the Bureau of National Health Insurance's proposal to hike premiums if the bureau continues its efforts to cut down expenses and open more sources of income.

"As far as I know, the bureau has been trying its best and doing a good job over the past two years to exercise economy and find its own funding," Yu said. "The Cabinet would support the bureau's decision to increase the premium if there are no other alternatives."

The bottom line, however, is to take care of people's health, Yu added.

"The essence of the healthcare system is to take good care of every citizen's health although the government is suffering from financial difficulties and the revenue of monthly healthcare pre-miums is less than the benefits paid out," he said.

Tang praised the national health-care system before yesterday's lunch.

"For the past year I was abroad and I realized that Taiwan's healthcare system is not any worse than that of the US, although ours may have some flaws and needs improvement," Tang said. "But how lucky we are to enjoy quality medical care so inexpensively."

Tang spent six months at Harvard University as a visiting scholar between March and September last year. He left for the US in November 2000 for a vacation after recovering from chest surgery performed in April the same year.

The bureau has proposed that the Department of Health raise rates for full-time workers from 4.25 percent of their monthly salary to 4.91 percent by July. The department is evaluating the proposal before sending it to the legislature.

If approved, a worker who earns NT$30,000 a month would have to pay around NT$200 more in health premiums each month.

The premium rate has remained the same since 1996 when the healthcare system was initiated.

The National Health Insurance Law mandates that the bureau has to review the rate every two years. It also stipulates that the bureau can raise fees if it pays out more in benefits than it takes in through premiums on a monthly basis.