Despite protests by health-care workers at the Legislature and the Control Yuan yesterday morning, Premier Yu Shyi-kun vowed that health insurance premiums would not increase before his term ends in February.
Demonstrators representing more than 300 clinics and hospitals complained of financial difficulties from what they called unfair insurance regulations.
Protesters called for changes in the Bureau of National Health Insurance's (BNHI) fixed-budget policy, which they said resulted in reimbursements at rates that made smaller hospitals lose money. At the beginning of this year, community hospitals were reimbursed at a rate of NT$0.72 per point for outpatient services. Points are accorded hospitals in accordance with medical expenses and services provided and are used to calculate reimbursement. Similar figures for larger medical research centers were reimbursed at NT$0.95 per point in the same period.
The protesters also took issue with a regulation under the Hospital Excellence Plan (
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Chin-hsing (
Health authorities yesterday refrained from making promises, conceding only that the nation's universal health insurance program was indeed in financial difficulty.
Despite the premier's vow not to increase insurance premiums for the time being, health authorities yesterday said that solutions for the current financial difficulties would most likely come in the form of premium and co-payment increases, or else restrictions on the range of medical services covered by health insurance.
"Under current regulations, the National Health Insurance sys-tem's income is increasing at a rate of 4 percent each year. How-ever, medical expenses are increasing at a rate of 6 percent each year," Department of Health Director-general Chen Chien-jen (
Chen also explained that if the insurance system continues to operate as it currently does, funds will soon run low, with reserve funds hitting just NT$300 million by the year's end.
The BNHI is legally bound to reserve NT$29 billion in funds as a safety measure to cover expenses when the insurance's annual income is insufficient.
However, Chen added that a final decision will be made after a citizens' forum is held on the issue.
He also responded to protesters' complaints by agreeing that the 45:55 ratio was inappropriate for community clinics, although he called it workable for larger hospitals.
Chen said that the health department is negotiating with representatives of several community clinics, and said he anticipated a decision on a new ratio or formula by Friday.
Premium increases are not the only possible solution to the insurance system's financial difficulties, National Health Insurance Task Force chairperson Wang Yi-ren (
"For example, we could increase taxes imposed on alcohol and cigarettes to boost insurance funds. The medical services covered by insurance can also be adjusted," Wang said.
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
ENHANCING DETERRENCE: Stationing the missiles in Kyushu would allow Japan to cover waters near Taiwan and China’s coastal areas without any logistical difficulties Japan is to deploy extended-range anti-ship missiles at a Ground Self-Defense Force base in Kumamoto to bolster its defenses, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Saturday. The upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, with a range of more than 1,000km, would be capable of striking targets in the Taiwan Strait and along China’s coast. Originally limited to a few hundred kilometers, the Type 12 was recently modernized ahead of schedule. Deployment, initially slated for next year, has been accelerated after the upgrade was completed sooner than expected, the newspaper said. Stationing the missiles in Kyushu would allow Japan to cover waters near Taiwan and
The presence of Taiwanese politicians at China’s military parade tomorrow would send the wrong message to Beijing and the international community about Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy, a national security official said yesterday. China is to hold the parade tomorrow to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. By bringing together leaders of “anti-West” governments such as Russia, North Korea, Iran and Belarus, the parade aims to project a symbolic image of an alliance that is cohesive and unbending against Western countries, the national security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu
RSS