Taipei: President Lai Ching-te announced on Sunday that his administration has allocated NT$5 billion (US$153.54 million) this year for new cancer drugs, marking half of the dedicated funding he promised as part of a comprehensive plan to combat the leading cause of death in Taiwan since 1985. This announcement was made during a forum organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taipei, where Lai emphasized the priority his administration places on addressing cancer, which claims over 50,000 lives annually in Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai, the first Taiwanese president with a medical background, has initiated the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee to address 10 proposals he received during the inaugural forum last year. He committed to holding the Healthy Taiwan forum annually on April 27 to evaluate his administration's responses to these proposals, which include establishing a NT$10 billion fund for new cancer drugs. This year, the government has budgeted NT$5 billion and plans to expand the fund to NT$10 billion, as suggested during last year's forum by Chen Jyh-hong, a professor emeritus at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) and Lai's mentor.
Lai's medical education at NCKU and subsequent career as a physician at the university hospital preceded his political career, which began in 1996. Chen Jyh-hong has been appointed as a deputy convener of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, which was established in June 2024 and is chaired by Lai.
In addition to the cancer drug funding, the government has allocated NT$6.8 billion in the 2025 budget to expand eligibility criteria and introduce new tests for Taiwan's national cancer screening programs. This budget represents a NT$4 billion increase to address another proposal presented to Lai before he assumed office in May last year. Furthermore, Lai announced a more than 6 percent increase in the National Health Insurance (NHI) budget for 2025 to ensure adequate funding for medical professionals, enhance healthcare services, and improve the pay of medical workers.
President Lai encouraged medical professionals attending the forum to participate in government policymaking and oversee the implementation of health policies, asserting the government's commitment to realizing its "Healthy Taiwan" vision. Despite a satisfaction rate exceeding 90 percent, he acknowledged that improvements are still necessary for the NHI program, which was launched 30 years ago.
Beyond cancer, the 10 proposals presented to Lai last year encompass a variety of issues, including the integration of social emotional learning in schools, the promotion of regular exercise, long-term care, and expanded screening for chronic diseases related to high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.