The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) held a handover ceremony, during which newly appointed NHIA Director General Shih Chung-liang said that there is no timetable on implementing planned adjustments to copayment rules. Director General Shih said that the implementation of the adjustments will depend on the COVID-19 situation, the pace of economic recovery and beneficiaries’ ability to pay, and that contingency measures and consensus among stakeholders must be established. Minister of Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan said that the Executive Yuan is tasked with assessing and reacting to Taiwan’s current economic condition and that his ministry will communicate with other government agencies regarding next steps in health policy under the guidance of the Cabinet.

Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation Chairperson Joanne Liu said that the matter of adjusting copayments is not as simple as having people paying more to make the National Health Insurance (NHI) more sustainable, and the NHIA has yet to make its case to the people through evidence and data. Instead, she suspects that the current push could be the result of closed room dealing and lobbying. Chairperson Liu urged Minister Shih to improve communications with the public and formulate policies in accordance with the NHI’s founding spirit.

During his address at the handover ceremony, Minister Hsueh said that the NHI is not only a public expense, but also an investment in public health, therefore, the NHIA will continue to review all items on the NHI fee schedule. Through continued investment and sound policy on Taiwan’s biotechnology sector, the positive impact of the NHI will be maximized. Regarding emerging therapeutics, adoption will be depended on the public’s needs and assessments backed by scientific evidence.

[2023-2-6/China Times]