During his presidential election campaign, President William Lai (賴清德) revealed his ambition to create a “Healthy Taiwan,” a policy component of his “National Project of Hope” initiative, which has garnered significant public interest.
Even before taking office, Lai appointed former National Cheng Kung University Hospital superintendent Chen Jyh-hong (陳志鴻) to hold seminars around the nation and survey people on their healthcare needs and concerns.
On Wednesday last week, Lai announced plans to establish three committees to address public issues, including one aiming at promoting healthcare in Taiwan.
The president is a qualified expert in healthcare. He is knowledgeable about preventative, clinical and rehabilitative medicine, and has a deep understanding of elderly, long-term and palliative care.
In his first month in office, Lai’s efficient, pragmatic and no-nonsense approach has been a breath of fresh air.
Yet, some believe that setting up committees in the Presidential Office is redundant and could undermine ministries. Others worry that Lai might overstep his power, potentially shifting toward a full presidential system as opposed to the current semi-presidential system.
However, by using the term “advisory,” Lai has made it clear that his intention is simply to gather a wide range of opinions. The three committees are consultative in nature, and the actual implementation of policies remains the responsibility of ministries and agencies under the Executive Yuan.
“Health” is not synonymous with “medical treatment.” Beyond healthcare reform, the “Healthy Taiwan” plan touches upon disease prevention, health maintenance and promotion, and teaching people correct information about health from a young age.
Prioritizing nutrition, exercise, mental and physical health, and early-stage screenings, as well as obesity and cancer prevention, is especially critical. This holistic approach aims to combat misinformation and encourage healthy lifestyles.
To bring this plan to fruition, the Health Promotion Administration, the K-12 Education Administration and the Sports Administration are expected to play increasingly significant roles and be allocated greater resources over the course of Lai’s presidency.
The healthcare sector has faced significant challenges in the past few years, casting a shadow on what was once a source of national pride.
The National Health Insurance (NHI) system and a loss of personnel are closely intertwined: The chronic underfunding of the medical sector has led to a critical shortage of medical staff, forcing hospitals at various levels to restrict available beds.
Should the situation fail to improve quickly, it would inevitably result in long waits for emergency and outpatient services, surgical backlogs and even preventable deaths. Furthermore, the outflow of medical staff would considerably affect the quality of care.
Swift and substantial changes are necessary. Funding solutions have already been identified at the “Healthy Taiwan” forums. What is needed now is action. Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) promised a one-year turnaround, but the plan still requires the financial support and backing of the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan.
Regardless, government coffers are limited, and the NHI system cannot cover everything. It should remain a social insurance system and not lean too heavily toward social welfare. Otherwise, it would lead to a “rob Peter to pay Paul” situation with not nearly enough money to go around.
Regarding cost-saving measures, the committee can build on the remarkable results achieved by former NHI Administration director-general Lee Po-chang (李伯璋), and work on proposing feasible solutions to reduce resource waste.
Given the unpopularity of raising premiums, NHI Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) has suggested a “two-tier healthcare” plan based on practices in developed countries.
The system would allow people to purchase additional coverage, ensuring that individuals can obtain new cancer drugs without enduring excessive financial strain.
Even if managed by private insurance companies, economies of scale would still make the premiums relatively affordable, and strong government oversight would ensure public trust in the system.
That proposal merits thorough discussion.
All in all, the Taiwan health promotion committee must aim to go beyond abstract principles and policies, prioritizing the development of tangible proposals that can promptly be put into action across various governmental departments.
Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo’s (郭智輝) policies of bringing “international businesses to Taiwan” and “Taiwanese businesses to the world” serve as excellent examples of such practical planning and implementation. We can only hope that the committee would deliver similarly concrete and viable policies to turn the “Healthy Taiwan” plan into a reality.
Jeng Cherng-jye is an executive superintendent at Taipei Show Chwan Hospital and a member of Chung Shan Medical University’s board of directors.
Translated by Gabrielle Killick
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