TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's premier medical institution finds itself at the center of controversy amid speculation over potential fee increases for patients. The National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH, 台大醀院), the island's most prestigious teaching hospital, has been the subject of recent media reports claiming it would raise registration fees later this year in response to April's implementation of a new regional healthcare budget system. Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) firmly rejected these claims on Monday (April 14).
Minister Chiu emphasized widespread staff satisfaction with existing protocols that preserve physician decision-making authority at the prestigious institution. This autonomy benefits the hospital's development and ensures the sustainability of national health insurance, he explained. The controversy stems from a pilot initiative recently introduced by the National Health Insurance Administration (NHI, 中央健保署), Taiwan's universal healthcare administrator, officially termed the "individual hospital prospective budget regional co-management trial plan" (小總額制度), which establishes yearly caps on billable services with financial penalties for institutions exceeding their allocations.
The budget constraints have triggered alarm among hospital leadership regarding patient access to specialized care. NTUH Superintendent Wu Ming-shiang (吳明賢) voiced apprehension about maintaining service levels, particularly highlighting the institution's crucial function as a referral center for the most complex medical cases nationwide. Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) downplayed these concerns, noting Taipei's robust healthcare infrastructure would prevent service disruptions, while encouraging premier medical centers to prioritize their resources for the most severely ill patients.
The insurance administrator emphasized the need for a more coordinated approach to patient management across Taiwan's healthcare ecosystem. Shih advocated for directing less acute cases to community hospitals once patients' conditions stabilize, creating a more efficient flow through the medical system. He further revealed forthcoming pricing reforms that would establish separate fee structures for routine versus specialized consultations, with implementation scheduled for the second half of 2025. ★