Ma opens National Health Insurance forum

2015-03-18

President Ma Ying-jeou said March 16 that Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system safeguards the rights of the people to world-class health care while minimizing social problems stemming from poverty and illness.

“The NHI is characterized by low premiums, high efficiency and quality services,” Ma said. “It tops the world in terms of affordability, convenience, flexibility, patient satisfaction and universal coverage.

“Boasting a coverage ratio of over 99 percent and 80 percent satisfaction rate, the system is highly commended by experts and media around the world, including Nobel Economics Laureate Paul Krugman, National Geographic Channel, The New York Times and Time magazine.”

The president made the comments during the opening of an international symposium in Taipei marking the NHI’s 20th anniversary. Organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the two-day event attracted more than 900 participants, including 100-plus experts and representatives from health-related entities in 23 countries and territories.

According to Ma, critically ill patients and senior citizens comprise 4 percent and 11.6 percent of the NHI’s patient base, but the services they receive account for 28 percent and 34 percent of system premiums.

“Such an arrangement helps ease the financial burden on a patient’s family and contributes to social justice,” Ma said, adding that more than 3 million disadvantaged people benefit from related government subsidies every year.

The president also credited the NHI for extending average life expectancy from 74.5 years in 1995 to 80 in 2013, adding that Taiwan and France are the only two countries in the world to extend system coverage to their prison populations.

But to further promote sustainable development of the NHI, Ma said, more effort must be made in enhancing information transparency, optimizing medical resource usage and strengthening financial health. In addition, physician and nursing shortfalls will continue being addressed by the government, with more than US$350 million allocated toward this end since 2011.

“These efforts are certain to bolster service quality, ensure coverage for the disadvantaged and establish Taiwan as an international benchmark in health care,” Ma added.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=228335&CtNode=413)