TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare on Monday (Jan. 22) announced major updates to its Rules of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment by Telecommunications, thereby extending telemedicine services to a greater population under certain conditions, effective July 1. An estimated 2.47 million individuals stand to benefit from these changes.
The updates accommodate for the ongoing adaptations in a post-COVID-19 healthcare landscape, extending the scope of telemedicine to five special situations. These include patients under chronic disease care, end-stage disease care, custody care in correctional facilities, care for the mobility challenged, and care in cases of disasters, communicable diseases, or other significant changes.
Addressing the media, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan clarified that the updates in line with the Physicians Act, Article 11, don't imply that all patients can avail of telemedicine services. Evaluation by healthcare units is mandatory, and physicians flouting rules could face a maximum fine of NT＄100,000.
The new process will combine physical outpatient services with telemedicine to cut costs and time for patients requiring post-acute care and present a convenient, seamless healthcare experience. The updated rules widen the spectrum of medical services that physicians can provide through telecommunication.
Further liberalizing medicine, the Ministry stated that doctors, upon evaluating the patient's stable condition, can now prescribe electronically even for patients suffering from chronic mental illnesses or in end-stage care, including regulated drugs like morphine.