TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Saturday that Taiwan’s National Health Insurance budget has surpassed NT$1 trillion (US$31.8 billion) for the first time.

Lai said the expanded budget will allow changes to the payment system so medical workers are paid based on workload and case difficulty. Hospitals will also have more resources to raise salaries, improve working conditions, and invest in equipment and training, CNA reported.

He added that the budget growth rate was set at 5.5% over the past two years, while ineligible expenses have been removed. “More than NT$10 billion was excluded from the budget in both 2025 and 2026 to better target healthcare funding,” he was quoted as saying.

Lai said the changes are intended to give hospitals more financial flexibility while improving staff pay and benefits, and upgrading facilities. He added that raising payments for complex procedures and key departments, including internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics, remains a priority.

On workforce issues, Lai said nursing staff levels have stabilized and recruitment has returned to pre-COVID levels. He said this shows government measures to support healthcare workers are starting to deliver results, per UDN.

Lai commented that the government is working to standardize medical data systems across hospitals. He said this will support wider use of artificial intelligence to assist clinical work and improve efficiency, per Liberty Times.

He added that recent legal reforms on medical dispute prevention and resolution are expected to reduce conflicts between patients and providers. “Improving the overall working environment will help retain talent and strengthen Taiwan’s healthcare system,” Lai said.