So far, the NHIA has already collected over 2.8 billion records of medical images, covering from CT, MRI, etc. This mega image databank has laid a solid foundation for the development of AI in healthcare in Taiwan. In 2019, the NHIA introduced a pilot scheme to allow the access to de-identified medical images for academic researches. The NHIA plans to officially launch this program as soon as next year after completing two pilot schemes. The government will charge fees for the access to the image data. In the future, if commercial use of such data is possible, the profits could be obtained by the NHIA to ease its financial pressure.
In order to promote the graded healthcare system and reduce duplicated tests, the NHIA started collecting medical images from 2015. In 2018, an image databank was established, thanks to the availability of new hardware. So far, it has accumulated 2.8 billion records of image data, including images of X-ray, electrocardiogram, ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc.
Considering that AI is one of the key developments of the future healthcare, in 2018 the NHIA created a high performance computing (HPC) platform to accelerate the training of AI models and the applications of the NHI data. In June 2019, the NHIA started a pilot scheme to give some academic the access to de-identified image data for academic purposes with a view to training the AI models so as to support diagnosis and improve healthcare quality. In the first pilot scheme, 15 applications were approved. The 2nd pilot scheme was just announced in April and will run till the end of this year.
According to an NHIA official, the pilot scheme could become a formal program as soon as next year. All fee charges will go into the national treasury. Though the industry has far greater demand than the academic for the access to the data in order to develop the AI technology, yet due to the current regulations, the NHI data is restricted to academic researches and the public interests.
However, the NHIA official pointed out that the commercial use of the databank could be possible. The NHIA is waiting for the right timing, for example, after the legislation of the Data Act. If so, some profits from the commercialization of the databank would go back to the public to help reduce the NHI financial pressure. Nonetheless, the society has concerns over the use of the NHI data. At present, non-governmental organizations still have doubts about the use of the NHI data, and believe that people have the right to say no. A constitutional interpretation on this issue would be required.
【2021-04-25 / China Times】
