President William Lai (賴清德) this morning attended a symposium to mark the 30-year anniversary of Taiwan’s world-acclaimed National Health Insurance (NHI) system.
In a forum on NHI sustainability, Lai expressed Taiwan’s deep gratitude to the NHI for safeguarding the health of all citizens.
He also stressed the importance of social health insurance as a social payback system to pool resources for those in need.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Last year, Taiwan’s healthcare index was ranked first in the world for the sixth consecutive year, attracting recognition and praise worldwide, Lai said.
The NHI currently boasts medical coverage of 98 to 99 percent, one of the world’s highest, treating prisoners, military personnel and impoverished families, he added.
From the common cold to organ transplants, cancer treatment to hospice and palliative care, everyone in Taiwan receives the same level of service, he said.
The NHI system also has a public satisfaction rate of more than 90 percent, one of the highest approval rates worldwide, he said.
It has addressed problems across society, including the poverty trap of sick people becoming poor, and poor people becoming sick due to the cost of healthcare, Lai added.
The NHI is a non-partisan system established by forward-thinking leaders such as former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and then-Department of Health minister Chang Po-ya (張博雅), he said.
However, the NHI faces some challenges, such as a shortage of medical personnel, particularly in the fields of internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology, he said, calling for these challenges to be addressed through healthcare reforms to ensure the NHI continues to deliver world-class service.
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