Healthcare Development: Aimed at Improving Conditions and Adopting Smart Technology
Taipei, Taiwan – The Executive Yuan announced a major healthcare initiative on Thursday, unveiling a NT$48.9 billion (US$1.48 billion) subsidy plan designed to strengthen Taiwan’s medical infrastructure over the next five years. The goal of the policy is to position Taiwan as the leading healthcare provider in the Asia-Pacific region.
During a press conference, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee revealed details of the subsidy program following a Cabinet meeting, where the final version of President William Lai’s Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan was approved.
According to Lee, the subsidy plan, presented by Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan, is aimed at addressing several key areas within the healthcare sector, including improving working conditions, diversifying the range of medical specialists, introducing advanced smart technologies, and enhancing the sector’s social responsibility and sustainability.
Under the program, hospitals, clinics, community healthcare groups, medical associations, and research institutions will be eligible for funding, provided they meet specific criteria and do not already receive other public subsidies.
Key objectives of the plan include optimizing hospital operations, improving professional ethics, expanding career opportunities in medical fields, and increasing the number of critical care doctors and nurses. Additionally, the plan encourages healthcare providers to integrate artificial intelligence into areas such as therapeutic practices, administrative tasks, data sharing, and cybersecurity.
Lee also emphasized that the initiative would reinforce Taiwan’s multi-tiered healthcare system, ensuring its long-term fiscal viability. The subsidies are intended to improve accessibility and equity in medical care while aligning with global standards for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
Premier Cho Jung-tai, in his remarks during the meeting, stressed that the policy must avoid favoring only large, well-known hospitals. He emphasized that the benefits should be distributed equitably to support as many healthcare workers as possible.
The overarching objective of the initiative, Cho said, is to overcome the current limitations of Taiwan’s healthcare system, making it more resilient and inclusive while establishing it as the premier public health model in the Asia-Pacific region.
Related topics
