Taipei: As Taiwan approaches the threshold of becoming a super-aged society, the government is set to bolster its health care system to serve its aging population, President Lai Ching-te announced at the Healthy Ageing Tech Show in Taipei. The senior care sector is projected to reach NT$3.6 trillion (US$120.59 billion) this year, accounting for over one-seventh of the nation's GDP.
According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai emphasized the urgency of addressing health concerns for Taiwan's elderly, with approximately 4.57 million people aged 65 or older, making up around 19.6 percent of the population. The country is expected to attain the 20-percent mark by the year's end, officially classifying it as a super-aged society.
Lai outlined a three-pillar approach to enhance health care, starting with the improvement of medical quality and services. Since assuming office last year, his administration has initiated national health insurance (NHI) reform and increased funding to better conditions for medical staff. Notable allocations include NT$6.8 billion in the 2025 budget for expanding cancer screening programs and establishing a NT$10 billion cancer drug fund.
The second pillar involves introducing "long-term care 3.0" in 2026, aiming to integrate medical and long-term care through smart and preventive health strategies. This plan seeks to achieve the goals of healthy aging, community-based care, and dignified end-of-life care.
The final pillar focuses on providing comprehensive support services for the elderly, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, and recreation. Lai called for collaboration among stakeholders to enhance elderly support, boost business opportunities in senior care, and position Taiwan as a global model for aging societies.
The Healthy Ageing Tech Show is ongoing at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 until Sunday. The National Development Council's biennial report from October 2024 projected Taiwan to become a super-aged society in 2025, as defined by the World Health Organization's classification metrics.
Data from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) showed Taiwan's population at 23,337,936 by the end of July, marking a continuous decline for 19 months. The elderly population was 4,583,678, constituting 19.64 percent of the total, with the working-age group at 68.74 percent and those aged 0 to 14 at 11.62 percent.