TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The government will launch initiatives to boost the domestic drug supply chain and expand collaborative R&D with international partners to help Taiwan’s pharmaceutical output reach NT$180 billion (US$5.7 billion).
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said the government will spend NT$24 billion on a four-year program to support the sector. The initiative aims to strengthen the production of pharmaceutical ingredients, drug storage, and supply management to ensure Taiwan’s healthcare system remains stable amid geopolitical changes, per CNA.
Some medicines, including those for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and asthma, largely rely on imports. Lai said the government will take measures to reduce supply chain risks, including strengthening cooperation with democratic partners to ensure a stable supply of pharmaceutical ingredients.
Lai said the government will review the country’s drug supply to assess domestic production capacity. He noted that the National Health Insurance system covers more than 14,000 medicines, while hospitals and clinics commonly prescribe about 1,700 of them, stressing the need to adjust which medicines are covered.
The National Health Insurance system has been in place for over 30 years, improving healthcare quality and ensuring more even access to medical resources. Lai said the Cabinet plans to let local governments manage the insurance fees collected in their areas to better integrate local medical services.
Deputy Economics Minister Ho Chin-tsang (何晉滄) said the ministry will support domestic research units in conducting R&D on 37 medicines with more complex manufacturing processes, and later transfer the technology to local pharmaceutical companies.
Ho said the ministry will help these companies shift from traditional batch production to continuous manufacturing to reduce costs. It will also support using natural enzymes to cut solvent use, a move expected to meet European environmental standards.
The National Atomic Research Institute added that most nuclear medicine in Taiwan also relies on imports. To boost local supply, the institute will develop new drug formulations, push regulatory initiatives, and improve the management of radiopharmaceutical stockpiles.
