Taiwan has ranked first for a sixth consecutive year on online database Numbeo’s Health Care Index by country.
The government fully supports precision medicine with a holistic approach to provide care for patients based on their personal needs, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said last month.
Chen made the statement at this year’s International Symposium on Spiritual Care on Jan. 20.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
Citing the Numbeo index, Chen said Taiwan’s high ranking is thanks to the National Health Insurance system and medical care quality that meets WHO standards.
Chen also said caring for patients’ spirituality was vital.
The medical industry should have a holistic approach and take care of people’s spirituality, as only then can a person be taken care of mentally, physically and socially, he said.
This ties in to the concept of precision medicine, which takes different lifestyles and needs into consideration, and offers individualized care, he said.
Chen said the National Health Promotion Administration should be credited for promoting hospice care since 2017 and allowing spiritual caregivers to become more respected as professionals.
The index has ranked 94 countries twice a year since 2012 based on medical personnel capabilities, the quality of medical equipment and services, ease of access to medical facilities and other indicators.
It was the sixth consecutive year that Taiwan has beaten Japan and South Korea.
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