Newly appointed Premier Chen Chien-jen on Jan. 27 announced a new Cabinet lineup, with Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan confirmed to remain in his post. However, National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Director General Lee Po-chang will be replaced by Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, who having previously served as the head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s (MOHW) Department of Medical Affairs and Department of Planning as well as MOHW Secretary General, is well qualified.

Separately, Minister Hsueh said that the NHIA will continue to work towards several objectives, including implementing copayment adjustments, appealing the Constitutional Court’s ruling against the use of National Health Insurance data, which will require coordination between the MOHW’s Department of Social Insurance and the National Health Insurance Committee. Minister Hsueh added that as NHIA Director General Shih is already familiar with the above mentioned, good progress is likely under his supervision.

Taiwan College of Healthcare Executive Hung Tzu-jen said that during his tenure as vice MOHW minister, Director General Shih oversaw the completion of draft revisions to the Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications as well as promoting a statute on regenerative medicine, which are demonstrative of his deep understanding of health care systems. In the future, Director General Shih will continue efforts at introducing copayment, reexamining the value of medical points, the reimbursement system to improve the operations of health providers as well as elevate the quality of care provision.

[2023-1-28 United Daily News]