The new NHIA Director-General, Shih Chung-Laing, said at the handover ceremony that he has already been fully advised by his predecessor on the NHIA’s future tasks which cover 5 major aspects:  system, finance, IT, regulations and communication.  Chou Ching-Ming, the President of the Taiwan Medical Association, praised Shih as “the most down-to-earth communication master”.  He hopes that in the future, the NHIA will communicate first before making announcement rather than the other way round, so as to make hospital’s operation smooth and to improve the quality of healthcare.

Shih Chung-Liang mentioned that the NHI is one of the most import national assets.  This achievement stems from the efforts of his predecessors who faced and responded to various challenges.  But, the challenge will not end, neither will the reform.  He is honoured to be appointed to the NHIA Director-General.    There is still a long way to go, but he fully understands the expectations from the MOHW Minister and will work hard especially in the aforementioned five major aspects.

System

As the population ages, various needs and challenges continue to emerge. The NHIA will expand its service to cover preventive healthcare and long-term care.  This requires the collaboration with the Health Promotion Administration and the Long-Term Care Department. 

Finance

Shih expressed that none of his predecessors could avoid dealing with the NHI financial problem.  The NHI annual global budget which is worth over NT$800 billion is not only an expenditure, but also an investment in national health.   The NHIA has to make the most efficient use of this fund.  The NHIA will continue to review the reimbursement items, and take into account of any new healthcare services that have been scientifically proven effective.

IT

Shih pointed out that IT has played an important role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.  He acknowledged the former NHIA Director-General for his effort in increasing the NHI data capacity which contributed greatly to the government’s combat against COVID-19.  The NHIA will be prepared for the digital health era.  The MOHW Minister has given instructions to the NHIA to develop a next-generation IT upgrade plan to improve the medical system and to align with international standards.

Regulations

Last year, two of the constitutional interpretations made by the Council of Grand Justices provoked great controversy.  One is the use of NHI data, and the other is about the Taiwanese expatriates’ right to suspend NHI enrolment.  The NHIA will review and revise the regulations, tighten the authorization of the access to NHI data, provide the insured with an option to opt-out on data collection, and upgrade the IT security mechanism. 

Communication

The NHI is for the general public.   Every policy should be fully communicated both internally and externally.  Shih expects to form partnerships with the stakeholders in order to achieve the common goal of a sustainable NHI system.

【2023-02-06 / United Daily】