Since its implementation 24 years ago, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program has become an example to be emulated by many other countries, in particular regarding the utilization of information technologies in building a cloud-based medical information platform that has gained international renown. The achievement has been acknowledged by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, leading to the APEC Conference on Medical Information Sharing for Enhancing Medical and Disease Management in Taipei on Aug. 8 and 9. The unprecedented event drew around 40 representatives from 13 economies to further official international exchanges and collaboration to build a medical information platform.

The forum focused on the three themes of “Global trends and progress in utilizing medical information exchange technology to improve health care,” “Strategies and perspectives on collecting, sharing and utilizing and securing medical information,” and “Utilizing information technology to strengthen medical care in the public and private sectors.”

Apart from focusing on the utilization of information and communication technologies in medical care, the forum also discussed cybersecurity issues in collecting medical information, with many countries sharing examples of their respective operating strategies and health care applications. 

National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) Director-General Lee Po-chang said that during the World Health Assembly in May this year, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chun held many bilateral talks with officials from the U.S., Europe and countries included in the New Southbound Policy, where a high level of interest in Taiwan’s cloud-based medical information platform was expressed, with many voicing further interest in sending visiting delegations to learn of Taiwan’s experience. As the forum’s topics fit the priorities of the World Health Organization, APEC and other regional organizations and are areas where Taiwan’s have strong capabilities, it drew a warm reception among attending representatives from many different countries, in particular among New Southbound Policy countries, each represented by more than two high-ranking officials, while far-flung Peru also sent two representatives.

As a vital part of the global medical information technology supply chain and a strong performer in the medical information industries, the NHIA used the forum to promote Taiwan’s related applications, including a cloud-based medical information data base and the healthcare passbook and further exchanges between visiting officials to raise the profile of Taiwan’s smart solutions in the global markets.

Of which, Taiwan’s healthcare passbook, which is enabled by a cloud-based medical information system, which brings the ability for beneficiaries to check their medical records and provides the foundation for further development of the smart medical care industry.

【2019-08-08 / NHIA】