During the 20th Central Cancer Control Meeting, Premier Cho Jung-tai on Dec. 24 said that to achieve President William Lai’s goal of improving cancer prevention to build a healthier Taiwan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has been proactively promoting early cancer screening, genetic sequencing and precision medicine, and establishing the NT$10 billion Cancer Drug Fund (CDF), with the hope of reducing cancer standardized mortality rate by one-third by 2030.
Regarding the MOHW’s briefing on improving cancer screening, Premier Cho said that starting 2025 the MOHW will expand cancer screening volume and related services. On promoting gene sequencing and precision medicine, Premier Cho said that the MOHW has been tasked to build a bio bank specific to Taiwan’s population.
On improving patient access to new drugs, Premier Cho asked the MOHW to keep abreast of international trends on cancer treatment and gradually increase the CDF’s scale to NT$10 billion according to revenue availability and patients’ needs, while also striving to enable quicker inclusion of new cancer drugs on the National Health Insurance fee schedule, lower patients’ financial burdens and elevate cancer care.
[2024-12-24/Liberty Times]
