TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) urged medical institutions to raise healthcare workers’ salaries as the National Health Insurance budget hits a record NT$928.6 billion (US$30 billion), up 8.13% from last year.
At a forum held by National Taiwan Hospital University on Sunday, Lai said the government has established a health promotion committee, with one of its key initiatives aimed at raising the National Health Insurance budget to improve medical service. Next year’s budget is projected at NT$1.82 trillion and has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review, per CNA.
The committee also aims to improve healthcare workers’ pay and working conditions and tackle issues such as holiday emergency room congestion. In October, the health ministry opened 13 urgent care centers across Taiwan’s six major cities to provide treatment for minor illnesses during the holidays.
During the Lunar New Year holiday, the ministry doubles payments for inpatient care, emergency services, nursing, and pharmacy fees. Outpatient services also receive up to a 100% bonus, encouraging clinics and hospitals to stay open during the holiday.
Lai emphasized that although Taiwan’s average life expectancy reached 80.77 years last year, some people typically spend about 10% of their lives bedridden, using a wheelchair, or requiring long-term care.
The National Health Insurance system, now in its 30th year, has ensured broad access to medical services. However, it faces growing challenges, particularly manpower shortages in surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Lai warned the system will be difficult to sustain without reform.
The National Health Insurance Administration has raised reimbursements for emergency and critical care, increasing payments for high-complexity surgeries and severe conditions to promote fairer compensation and help hospitals maintain adequate staffing.
The agency also plans to boost payments for pediatric emergency and critical care, covering ward beds, inpatient consultation fees, surgeries, and psychiatry. The proposal is expected to be finalized in December and take effect in January.
Lai said the government will invest NT$13.56 billion from this year to 2028 to strengthen the pediatric care system. Eight hospitals will be designated for critical and rare disease treatment, and 27 others will be subsidized to provide services from prenatal care to emergency and intensive care.
He added the government is also promoting a dedicated pediatrician system. As of September, more than 2,500 doctors and nearly 1,200 institutions had joined, serving over 268,000 children. The system is expected to aid about 100 children with cancer annually and help retain 230 pediatricians.
