Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated that Taiwan’s policy must shift from “cost containment” to “investment” in health and innovation as the 2026 National Health Insurance (NHI) global budget approaches NT$1 trillion. Shih said 2026 will mark a turning point in both NHI and broader health policy, with the government advancing three institutional reforms aimed at paving the way for medical innovation.

Firstly, the Regenerative Medicine Act and the Regenerative Medicinal Products Act are set to take effect in 2026, aimed at ensuring safety and quality while easing pathways for innovative therapies to enter the market and strengthening post-market surveillance. The measures seek to balance early patient access with risk management, supporting the development of high-value treatments such as cell, gene and immunotherapies.

Secondly, the Regulations Governing the Management of National Health Insurance Data are expected to be implemented in mid-2026. The rules will establish a legal foundation for the use of NHI data while strengthening privacy protection. They will also promote the integration of cancer and other datasets to support the development of precision medicine and clinical research.

Thirdly, amendments to the Human Biobank Management Act will expand the scope of authorized biobank use under an ethics- and safety-based framework. The amendments aim to enhance the use of biological samples and linked clinical data to support new drug development and translational medicine.

Minister Shih said the three reforms together form a “data–regulation–innovation” policy framework, marking a shift in the government’s role from case-by-case management to system design. The goal, he said, is to provide clear, risk-controlled pathways for medical innovation while supporting the long-term sustainability of the NHI system and the growth of the health care industry.

[2025-1-6/IBMI]