Five major medical and nursing associations issued a joint statement today saying that funding issues with the National Health Insurance (NHI) system remain unresolved.
Although the NHI budget is slated to increase to NT$928.6 billion (USD$28.19 billion), a 5.5-percent increase compared to last year, this might still be short as the premium rate is not set to change and point values have yet to be adjusted, the statement said.
The five groups are the Taiwan Hospital Association, Taiwan Medical Association, Taiwan Union of Nurses Association, the Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association and Taiwan College of Healthcare Executive.
Photo: Lin Chih-yi, Taipei Times
The increased budget fails to account for unspent points, the statement said, which potentially fails to underestimate growth rates.
Compared to other advanced countries, Taiwan spends the least on healthcare as a percentage of GDP, the statement said, adding that this underinvestment has left the healthcare system unable to meet basic needs.
Other rare disease treatments have also relied on hospital budgets, leading to stagnant salaries for workers and reducing institutions’ capacity to care for the sick, the statement read.
For example, since 2003, NT$622 million has been budgeted for hepatitis B and C treatment programs but actual spending by hospitals is at NT$2.8 billion over that period, the statement said.
Some medical institutions have even had to close, the statement added.
Point values have been diluted, leading to increased burden on medical institutions, the statement said.
Point value reform should seek to make up for prior shortcomings, rather than just increasing this year’s budget, the statement said.
The groups called on the government to address point value deficits, adjust the payment formula to reflect rising costs of advancing medical treatments, allocate dedicated budgets for specific public health projects to avoid impacting general health services, and improve salaries for workers, the statement said.
The groups also thanked the government and Ministry of Health and Welfare for supporting the budget increase, adding that this year’s budget reflects the importance of the medical system, the statement said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS