The NHI data of cancer treatments in the past five years revealed a gradual change in the trend in cancer treatments.  The ratio of target therapies increased from 42.5% in 2011 to 54.7% in 2015.  It shows that precision target therapies have become the mainstream treatment method. 

Dr Wang Cheng-Hsu, the President of the Hope Foundation for Cancer Care, expressed that the decrease in the mortality rate of cancers is mainly due to the Health Promotion Administration’s continuous efforts in promoting the cancer screening programs since 2005.

Dr Wang pointed out that the launches of target cancer therapies ushered cancer treatments into a new era of precision medicine.   He hopes the NHIA would take patient groups’ opinions into account and expedite the NHI reimbursement for new cancer drugs.

Dr Chang Yen-Hua from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (VGH) also expressed that the launches of target cancer therapies have a significant effect in prolonging patients’ life with fewer side effects.  They have changed the treatment guidelines.  According to the Taipei VGH’s data in the past six years, the average survival years of patients receiving target cancer therapies is 2.5 years longer than those receiving chemotherapies.

【2017-04-13 / Economic Daily】