At the sidelines of a news conference promoting wider use of next-generation sequencing to improve the efficacy of precision medicine, National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Director General Shih Chung-liang on May 14 said that under the implementation of the second-generation National Health Insurance, the basic and supplemental premium rates have been decoupled, resulting in a significant gap between the two rates, with the former reaching 5.17% and the latter at 2.11%.

NHIA Director General Shih said that to ensure fairness, the amount of premiums charged should be based on a person’s income regardless of the type of income, with high earnings shouldering higher contributions. Discussions on whether the premiums rate on capital gains income should or should not be lower than the basic premiums rate are expected to take place after a new government assumes office following inauguration on May 20.

In response to the Cancer Drug Fund proposed earlier by President-elect Lai Ching-te, NHIA Director General Shih said that there will be updates after the new government assumes office, with further details to be released to the public. Additionally, NHIA Director General Shih will lead a delegation to the 2024 World Health Assembly to speak about enhancing the resilience of the global public health network in the post-pandemic era.

[2024-5-14/Central News Agency (CNA)]