TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Telehealth services will soon be extended to “hundreds of villages and towns,” as well as correctional facilities in Taiwan, National Health Insurance (NHI) Director Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said on Saturday (July 13).

Shih told reporters that the telehealth services will be extended to more remote mountainous areas, and areas in Taiwan’s outlying islands, per CNA. The decision to extend the service was made at an NHI meeting on Friday, during which it was agreed to increase funding, as well as diagnosis and treatment methods, Shih said.

In the future, every area in Taiwan that lacks access to medical care will be able to access telehealth, Shih said. An announcement is expected in August that will detail which areas the service will be expanded to.

In addition to remote areas, telehealth will be provided to 54 correctional facilities, including prisons and detention centers. Given prisoners' lack of mobility, telehealth will enable the incarcerated to access medical care more easily, Shih said.

The provision of psychiatric telehealth to correctional facilities will also be increased with the extension of the service, Shih said.