Reported by Lee Shu-Jen from Taipei

In order to prevent duplicate medications, the NHIA is planning to further raise the ceiling of drug co-payment which is currently set at NT$200.  The NHIA will report to the MOHW on the details of the plan.  The NHIA is heading in the right direction.  However, the health authority will not rush into actions as the public’s medication rights are affected.

The NHIA has been taking measures, such as the cloud-based medication records and treatment records, in order to reduce the waste of healthcare resources.  The NHIA has also informed hospitals to start recording the drug disposal data by noting down the type and weight of drugs disposed of every day.  The information will help legislators and the public understand how serious the problem of drug waste is.

Lee Po-Chang, the Director General of the NHIA, pointed out that if duplicate prescriptions are issued by the same hospital, then the NHIA will reject the payment to the hospital.  At next stage of implementation, if a patient visits different hospitals within a short period of time and is given the same prescriptions; then the later one will not be reimbursed.  This will also apply to test items.

Lee Po-Chang said that the NHI system is Taiwan’s pride.  He hopes the public cherish the limited resources and grasp the concept of “user fees” so as to reduce the waste of healthcare resources.

【2017-08-31/ United Evening News】