Advancing health equity and promoting a healthier Taiwan

Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Improved health results in greater well-being for the people and has ramifications for the survival and development of a country and even the world.

- DR. CHIU TAI-YUAN

At the 77th World Health Assembly, members adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) 14th General Program of Work for 2025-2028. The program includes such strategic objectives as improving health service coverage and bolstering financial protections to ensure universal health coverage. WHO has called on all countries to take action on these issues.

As concerns universal health coverage, Taiwan launched the National Health Insurance (NHI) system in 1995. The scheme, which brought together already existing occupational insurance schemes, has reached its 30th year and now covers 99.9 percent of the population.

The NHI system provides equitable, accessible and efficient health care to all people in Taiwan. It is also an important pillar and guarantor of Taiwan’s social stability as well as people’s health and safety.

It has, moreover, become a global benchmark for achieving universal health coverage. In an annual survey carried out by Numbeo, Taiwan has been ranked first in the Health Care Index category for seven consecutive years.

The NHI operates on a pay-as-you-go, self-sustaining model capable of addressing the financial challenges posed by an aging population and rising health care costs. By reforming premium rates and adding additional funding sources, such as the tobacco health and welfare surcharge, the system is on a sound, sustainable footing.

To promote the health of our people, President Lai Ching-te articulated a vision of a healthy Taiwan in 2024. This aims to ensure that people are healthy, the nation is strong and the world is more ready to embrace Taiwan. Remaining focused on people, families and communities, we are expanding health promotion operations and preventive health care.