TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The standard mortality rate from cancer should drop by one third in Taiwan by 2030, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Saturday.
He unveiled the intention in a recorded message shown at the 30th Taiwan Joint Cancer Conference, per CNA. He named early screening, targeted genetic testing, and a NT$10 billion (US$316 million) cancer drug fund as the three strategies to reduce cancer.
The conference provided the opportunity for nine cancer-related healthcare associations to exchange information, the Presidential Office said in a news release. As the first member of the medical profession to have been elected president, Lai said establishing a healthy Taiwan was one of his key policies — with reducing cancer rates a prime target.
Last year, 6 million cancer tests were conducted, an increase of 25.7% over the previous year, the president said. The campaign helped 76,000 people to detect cancer early and to treat it successfully.
Taiwan is also gradually expanding coverage of the next-generation sequencing of cancer through the national health insurance system. This allows patients to receive more effective medicines, while the launch of a specialized evaluation center has sped up the acquisition of new drugs, Lai said.
The government contributed NT$5 billion to the national health insurance fund last year for new cancer drugs, benefiting 3,500 patients. A further NT$5 billion injection is planned for this year, he said.
