Premier Cho Jung-tai in a Jan. 20 news conference urged the Legislative Yuan to conduct a more rational review of the 2025 central government budget, during which Minister of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Chiu Tai-yuan said that the proposals freezing NT$1.02 billion in operational funding for the ministry, impacting 11 healthcare areas under the MOHW, will hamper policy formulation, research, and talent retention.

MOHW Minister Chiu noted that the frozen funding includes a NT$50 million allocation that will impact the establishment of the Cancer Drug Fund, and efforts at promoting cancer screening and precision medicine, as well as an allocation of NT$ 20 million for orphan drugs.

MOHW Minister Chiu said that the funding freeze could also hinder efforts at improving the resilience of Taiwan's healthcare system and impact the capabilities of the Taiwan Centers for the Disease Control and the Taiwan Food and the Drug Administration. Additionally, the National Health Insurance Administration could face risks of delaying payments to healthcare providers, impacting the operations of institutions.

[2025-01-20/Central News Agency (CNA)]