Lai’s Yearly Review Promise for Health Policies

TL/DR –

President-elect Lai Ching-te has pledged to hold an annual health symposium to assess the progress of healthcare policies in Taiwan. Among the proposals to be pursued by the new government include reduction of the cancer mortality rate, provision of mental health leave for students, and an increase in cancer screening. A NT$10 billion (US$306.55 million) fund focusing on the development of emerging technologies to treat cancer patients is also being considered.

Taiwan’s President-Elect Pledges Annual Health Symposium

In an announcement on April 28, Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has committed to organizing an annual health symposium. It will serve as an avenue for evaluating the implementation progress of health care policies.

This commitment was made at the closing session of a series of “Healthy Taiwan” forums. These forums were initiated as part of Lai’s “National Project of Hope” during his 2022 election campaign. The national health forums, conducted across Taiwan from March 23 to April 14, concluded this Saturday in Taipei.

Lai emphasized that the new government will allocate an annual budget to implement the 10 suggestions and an initiative proposed at these forums. This will include the promotion of policies like long-term care combined with geriatric medicine, smart medical and health care, and tailored health policies for indigenous people.

One of the 10 proposals aims to reduce the cancer mortality rate by one-third of its 2022 rate of 222.7 per 100,000 population by 2030. While Lai recognizes that this is a challenging goal, he revealed plans for establishing a NT$10 billion (US$306.55 million) fund focused on the development of emerging technologies for cancer treatment.

Other proposals include offering mental health leave for students and enhancing long-term care services. Tackling the lack of pediatricians and boosting cancer screening rates were other key points raised, as reported by Chen Jyh-hong (陳志鴻), the convener of the “Healthy Taiwan” forum and former superintendent of National Cheng Kung University Hospital.

Healthcare experts have also recommended a Healthy Taiwan Sprout Project. The proposed program encapsulates four main themes to be launched next year, which include optimizing healthcare professionals’ working conditions, talent cultivation, smart medical services, and social responsibility, according to Chen.

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