TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan plans to raise the proportion of patients using home-based dialysis to 18% by 2035, up from 8% currently, as part of efforts to shift the healthcare system away from a hospital-centered model.
The policy push comes as chronic kidney disease has become a major public health challenge in Taiwan, particularly as the population ages. About 12% of the population, an estimated 2.86 million people, are affected by the disease, and more than 80,000 patients currently require dialysis, according to Hello Yishi.
Most patients with end-stage kidney disease rely on in-center treatment, with about 90% undergoing hemodialysis, according to China Medical University Hospital. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Wednesday that advances in medical technology and improvements in public self-care capacity have created more favorable conditions for expanding home dialysis in Taiwan, according to CNA.
Shih noted that patients were previously reluctant to adopt home-based treatment due to concerns about managing dialysis on their own. However, improved health education and greater public awareness could gradually increase acceptance.
Conventional hemodialysis involves filtering blood through a machine and dialyzer, acting as an artificial kidney, to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluid. Each session typically lasts several hours.
Kuo Huey-liang (郭慧亮), director of the hemodialysis department at China Medical University Hospital, said home hemodialysis has been practiced internationally for more than 50 years but is not widely known in Taiwan. Home hemodialysis allows patients to receive treatment at home, offering greater flexibility and enabling therapy to better fit daily routines.
Internationally, many countries have accelerated the shift toward home-based dialysis as part of efforts to decentralize care. Singapore and Australia have raised home dialysis rates to around 20%.
To support the transition, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration allocated NT$433.5 million (US$13.7 million) last year to encourage medical institutions to expand home dialysis services and improve care quality.
