TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Health and Welfare Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan announced the launch of a new telemedicine project in Taiwan on Wednesday (Nov. 8).
This initiative will help provide virtual diagnoses and long-distance clinical treatments to patients who cannot travel to hospitals. The service will be available starting from April next year and is expected to benefit more than seven million people.
The new telemedicine service will cover chronic treatments, serious accidents, infectious diseases, and people with disabilities. The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) has estimated that this initiative will significantly advance the health services industry, making it more accessible to those in need.
However, some concerns have been raised regarding the project's progress. Legislator Lai Hui-yuan, from the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan, has questioned the NHIA about how it plans to ensure a smooth digital transition.
In response, NHIA Department of Medical Affairs Director Liu Lin-yi stated that telemedicine services became accessible to general patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, approximately 460,000 patients, primarily those with chronic conditions, have received diagnoses through video calls.
To ensure a smooth transition next year, MOHW Health Division Chief Liu Yueh-Ping has affirmed that standard requirements are in place, and healthcare facilities are alerted to complete the necessary setups within six months.
