TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration (NHI, 健保署) announced Monday (March 23) that cancer treatment spending reached a record high in 2025. Costs hit NT$156.7 billion (US$4.9 billion), up about 5% compared with 2020. The increase reflects mounting pressure from demographic shifts and rising demand for advanced therapies.
The trend mirrors a global surge in oncology costs driven by aging populations and expensive new treatments. Global spending on cancer medicines reached US$252 billion (NT$8.07 trillion) in 2024, according to healthcare data firm IQVIA. That figure is projected to reach US$441 billion (NT$14.12 trillion) by 2029, nearly doubling in five years.
Taiwan's 5% annual increase remains moderate compared with regional projections. Overall medical costs across the Asia-Pacific region could surge by 13% to 14% in 2025 and 2026. The rapid adoption of high-cost therapies, including targeted treatments and immunotherapy, is driving much of the increase.
Health officials attribute the rise to structural factors, including expanded screening programs identifying more cases at earlier stages. Government data show that 970,104 people sought cancer treatment last year, underscoring growing demand. The figure represents a significant portion of Taiwan's 23.4 million residents requiring ongoing oncology care.
Taiwan officially became a super-aged society in 2026, with 20% of the population over 65. Globally, per-capita cancer spending is expected to rise by as much as 67% by 2050. Taiwan faces questions over how its healthcare system will manage growing demand and sustain funding as older patients account for an increasing share of those requiring long-term treatment. ◼