Saying that he will not change his mind about resigning following the passage of the health bill, Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) yesterday agreed to remain in his post until the end of the month while the Executive Yuan looks for his successor.
Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said last night that Yaung had urged him to approve his resignation so that he [Yaung] could “put down the heavy burden.”
Saying that he hasn’t approved the resignation, Wu said, however, that he would try to find a successor for Yaung before he leaves his post.
PHOTO: CNA
Yaung tendered his resignation on Tuesday saying that “personal incompetence had resulted in the bumpy road to reforming the national health insurance system.”
Earlier yesterday, he said his mood “couldn’t be better” and that he was looking forward to relaxing at home or in the countryside.
He also explained that the National Health Insurance (NHI) premium rate of 4.91 percent charged on regular monthly income and the 2 percent premium rate on supplementary income would finance the NHI fund for about five years, after which the premium rates would have to be increased.
The amendment to the National Health Insurance Act (全民健康保險法) passed on Tuesday will calculate a person’s premium based on his or her individual salary, as with the current system, rather than the combined salaries of each person in a household.
However, individuals who make extra income from investments, rent or bonuses that are four times their monthly salary will have to pay a “supplementary premium.”
Yaung said the current rates will be sufficient because although workers’ regular salaries lag behind economic growth, other sources of income included as part of the NHI system’s supplementary income will grow in proportion to GDP.
Initial estimates by the government show the “supplementary premium” would increase NHI revenue by NT$20.8 billion (US$713.9 million) annually.
A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday launched a petition urging Yaung not to resign, lauding him for his efforts in pushing NHI reform and calling him a “model political appointee.”
Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) hopes Yaung will remain in his position.
KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾), however, said Yaung’s resignation should be approved because there is a big difference between Yaung’s initial second-generation NHI scheme proposal and the final scheme passed by the legislature.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG AND KO SHU-LING
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