TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA, 健保署) announced on Monday (Jan. 12) that it has launched three major initiatives from the beginning of 2026 to enhance healthcare services in Taiwan. These initiatives include improved medical coverage for hyperlipidemia, new benefits for pediatric cancer proton therapy, and increased compensation for emergency surgeries. The administration stated in a press release that it expects these programs, with a total investment of NT$370 million, to benefit approximately 34,000 people annually.
Yi-Heng Li (李貽恒), president of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology (中華民國心臟學會), emphasized the importance of addressing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a leading cause of death in Taiwan. Heart disease and cerebrovascular disease rank as the second and fourth leading causes of death in Taiwan, respectively. Li highlighted that high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a significant risk factor for ASCVD.
Since 2023, Lian-Yu Chen (陳亮妤), director of the NHIA, has collaborated with nine major medical societies in Taiwan to promote a program to improve the NHIA's payment for hyperlipidemia treatment. This initiative established the "ASCVD Risk Stratification" and "Taiwan Lipid Management Clinical Pathway Consensus" guidelines, encouraging healthcare institutions to follow them for high-risk patient care and monitoring.
The NHIA also introduced new coverage for pediatric cancer proton therapy, offering reimbursement based on different radiation absorption doses. An estimated 100 children are expected to benefit annually. Hsing Lung Chao (趙興隆), president of the Taiwan Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (台灣放射腫瘤學會), praised proton therapy for its precision in destroying tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues, which particularly beneficial in treating pediatric cancer due to its safety and prognostic advantages.
To strengthen emergency and critical trauma care, the NHIA has implemented a new policy offering additional compensation for specific medical services provided within two hours of a patient's arrival at the emergency department. Kuo Ling-wei (郭令偉), secretary-general of the Formosa Association for the Surgery of Trauma (台灣外傷醫學會), stated that the additional compensation prioritizes frontline personnel.