TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Friday (Feb. 21) underscored the urgent need for reform in Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI, 全民健保) system, which has safeguarded citizens' health for the past 30 years.
Speaking at the National Health Insurance 30 Symposium (健保30th永續研討會) at National Taiwan University's College of Public Health (國立台灣大學公共衛生學院), Lai emphasized the significance of NHI reform.
President Lai expressed gratitude for the NHI system's critical role in public health, calling it a fundamental mechanism for redistributing social resources and demonstrating a robust spirit of mutual aid. He noted that the system boasts a satisfaction rate exceeding 90%, effectively addressing societal issues like illness-induced poverty.
Reflecting on the system's inception, Lai thanked former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and then-Health Minister Zhang Bo-ya (張博雅) for their foresight, which has led to a coverage rate of 98% to 99%.
However, Lai pointed to workforce shortages in various medical specialties, such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics, which could impact public health. He urged the pursuit of sustainable solutions to address these challenges and ensure the system continues to support those in need.
