new drugs 結果共9筆

Premier Cho Jung-tai urges support for the family of a police officer killed in New Taipei City. A female driver, found with drugs, fatally struck the officer.

Cancer has been in Taiwan’s top ten causes of death for 42 consecutive years. Chiu Tai-yuan discussed the establishment of a cancer drug fund; 880,000 patients in 2023, cancer drugs cost $ 39.4 billion, and the Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation (THRF) called for a fund of tens of billions of dollars to clarify the financial resources and regulations.

The National Health Insurance (NHI) Administration in Taiwan has announced the approval of new applications for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) treatment coverage. This decision comes after the passing of lawyer Chen Chun-han, a prominent advocate for wider medication coverage for SMA. SMA is a progressive neuro-muscular degenerative disease caused by a mutation in the SMN1 gene, impacting muscle functionality and activities such as sitting, walking, speaking, breathing, and eating. The NHI Administration has included the gene therapy drug Zolgensma, which carries a price tag of NT＄49 million, in its benefits since the second half of 2023. The criteria for medication eligibility include an upper limb motor function index (RULM) score of at least 15. There are over 400 SMA patients in Taiwan, and by the end of 2023, 158 people applied for medication, with 145 approvals. The NHI Administration plans to hold an expert meeting in March to discuss expanding access to the drugs for all SMA patients, with a potential approval in the first half of 2024.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced updates to its Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications, expanding telemedicine services to a larger population under certain conditions, effective July 1. Approximately 2.47 million individuals are expected to benefit from these changes. The updates aim to adapt to the post-COVID-19 healthcare landscape and extend the scope of telemedicine to five special situations, including chronic disease care, end-stage disease care, custody care in correctional facilities, care for the mobility challenged, and care during disasters, communicable diseases, or other significant changes. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan clarified that not all patients can avail of telemedicine services, as evaluation by healthcare units is mandatory, and physicians who violate the rules may face a maximum fine of NT＄100,000. The new process combines physical outpatient services with telemedicine to reduce costs and time for patients requiring post-acute care, offering a convenient and seamless healthcare experience. The updated rules broaden the range of medical services that physicians can provide through telecommunication. Additionally, the Ministry has stated that doctors, after evaluating the patient’s stable condition, can now electronically prescribe medication for patients with chronic mental illnesses or in end-stage care, including regulated drugs like morphine.

Taiwan’s health ministry has announced the establishment of the Center for Health Policy and Technology Assessment (CHPTA) with an investment of nearly NT＄200 million from the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA). The CHPTA aims to expedite the review process for newly insured drugs by implementing parallel reviews. Starting from New Year’s Day in 2024, the new system is expected to significantly shorten the time required for reviewing newly insured drugs from an average of 13 months to 6 months. Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan emphasized that national health insurance plays a stabilizing role in Taiwanese society and disapproved of major amendments, ruling out the possibility of a ＂third generation health insurance.＂ He also expressed the belief that drug pricing policies under the health insurance system need reform, making the launch of CHPTA a significant reform effort.

Pingtung County Government has inaugurated Taiwan’s first dedicated Drug Analysis Laboratory, a pioneering move to combat drug crimes more efficiently. The lab, costing NT＄15 million, aims to reduce the turnaround time for drug analysis, which used to take one to two months when samples had to be sent to laboratories in other counties. Pingtung County Commissioner Chou Chun-mi emphasized the urgent need for the specialized lab due to the increasing variety and complexity of illicit drugs. Chou also highlighted the traditional approach to drug testing being too time-consuming and stressed the importance of efficiency in curbing the drug problem. In addition to the Drug Analysis Laboratory, Pingtung County has already established a Drug Testing Laboratory for urine tests in 2021. The new lab, certified by the Food and Drug Administration in December, marks a significant milestone in Taiwan’s anti-drug initiatives.

The New Taipei City Police Department conducted a 10-day operation resulting in the uncovering of 42 cases related to gang activity and fraud, leading to the arrest of 180 individuals. The operation aimed to prevent gang involvement in the upcoming elections, with a particular focus on criminal organizations like the Bamboo Union. During the operation, 73 members from 12 gang branches, including the Bamboo Union, were arrested. Additionally, the police uncovered 30 instances of fraud syndicates, resulting in the arrest of 107 individuals and the seizure of five modified firearms. The total amount of illicit earnings confiscated was over NT$10.23 million. The New Taipei City Police Department emphasized their commitment to maintaining order during the election season and expressed zero tolerance for election gambling or any violence that could disrupt the election. They will continue to carry out specialized operations targeting gang organizations, illegal firearms, drugs, and gambling crimes.

The New Taipei City Government withdrew on Thursday (July 13) the revocation of a kindergarten’s license after a criminal investigation concluded a day earlier that there was no evidence of improper treatment of the children.

A private kindergarten in New Taipei City has ignited public outrage following allegations that a teacher administered drugs to the children. On June 5, authorities conducted a long-overdue investigation to determine the extent of the impact on the affected children.