The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) has reduced reimbursements for 7,470 drugs covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) and expects to save about NT$5.83 billion (US$189.6 million), it said on Friday.
In an effort to secure financial stability for the NHI by reducing the gap between sale and procurement prices, it introduced a drug expenditure target pilot program in 2013 to adjust pharmaceutical prices on an annual basis, the agency said.
Under the scheme, the agency sets a target for total annual NHI expenditure on drugs and if that exceeds the budget, price adjustments are implemented.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
The scheme was revised when it ended in 2016 and a modified three-year pilot program was implemented in 2017 that excludes expenditure for treating HIV infection, hepatitis C, hemophilia and rare diseases.
This year, reimbursements for 66 drugs would be raised, while 7,470 would be lowered, passing on an average price increase of 3.5 percent, the agency said.
The changes are to take effect on April 1, it said.
NHIA Division of Medicinal Products section head Lien Heng-jung (連恆榮) said the NHI spends approximately NT$170 billion on drugs each year, with last year’s expenditure exceeding the target by NT$5.83 billion, so prices were adjusted after consulting drug price adjustment regulations and drug market surveys.
The savings might be used to add new drugs to the NHI system or expand coverage for NHI drugs, Lien said.
Among the top 10 reimbursements drugs last year, seven would cost more at the counter, including Crestor 10mg flim-coated tablets (rosuvastatin calcium), a commonly prescribed medicine that helps control low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the agency said.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
A drunk woman was sexually assaulted inside a crowded concourse of Taipei Railway Station on Thursday last week before a foreign tourist notified police, leading to calls for better education on bystander intervention and review of security infrastructure. The man, surnamed Chiu (邱), was taken into custody on charges of sexual assault, taking advantage of the woman’s condition and public indecency. Police discovered that Chiu was a fugitive with prior convictions for vehicle theft. He has been taken into custody and is to complete his unserved six-month sentence, police said. On Thursday last week, Chiu was seen wearing a white
RSS