To alleviate the financial burden on cancer patients, the Executive Yuan this year (2025) allocated NT$5 billion to establish a New Cancer Drug Fund. However, as of now, only NT$2.358 billion has been utilized — less than half of the budget — benefiting 3,351 households and reducing treatment costs by an average of NT$1.17 million per patient per year. Patient advocacy groups have expressed concern that the fund’s underutilization may hinder treatment continuity and access to medication.
The Legislative Yuan’s Hou Sheng Association on Oct. 22 held an expert held an expert forum urging the government to legalize and institutionalize the fund to ensure its long-term and stable operation. The association’s convener, Legislator Liu Chien-kuo, noted that the fund currently operates as part of the Executive Yuan’s administrative budget and that its scale is only “barely sufficient.” He called for expedited amendments to the Cancer Control Act and the Center for Health Policy and Technology Assessment Establishment Act (CHPTA), to establish a clear legal foundation and dedicated governing body, thereby improving the structure and sustainability of the New Cancer Drug Fund.
Legislator Chen Ching-wei, vice chairperson of the association, highlighted that cancer remains the leading cause of death in Taiwan, and that the government aims to reduce the standardized cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030. However, several pharmaceutical companies have already withdrawn their products from the Taiwanese market, raising concerns that new cancer drugs may not be introduced in the future. Formosa Cancer Foundation Formosa Cancer Foundation Deputy Director Tsai Li-chuan added that while the fund has indeed helped ease patients’ financial pressure, coverage gaps remain, for example, nearly half of breast cancer and other cancer treatments are still not reimbursed. She urged that patient voices be included in the policy review process to ensure that government decisions are better aligned with clinical realities and patient needs.
Professor Shen Li-chuan of National Taiwan University’s School of Pharmacy emphasized that establishing the CHPTA is key to integrating the New Cancer Drug Fund with the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. Through health technology assessment (HTA) and real-world evidence (RWE), the center could help develop a prioritization framework for new drug funding. National Health Insurance Administration Deputy Director-General Pang Yi-ming noted that only Taiwan and the United Kingdom currently operate similar cancer drug funds. He stressed that the next step should be to elevate the fund’s legal status, align it with international treatment guidelines, and extend the model to other critical and rare disease areas to strengthen the sustainability of Taiwan’s healthcare system.
[2025-10-30/United Daily News]
