National Health Insurance Budget Surpasses 1 Trillion NT$ with 6.5% Annual Growth! Premier Cho: Over 3 Billion NT$ to Boost Payments for Emergency, Critical, Rare, Pediatric, and Obstetric Services in Second Half

Premier Cho Jung-tai attended the opening ceremony of the 'Health Taiwan Deepening Forum,' hosted by Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, on the 18th, where he delivered remarks on the progress of the Health Taiwan Deepening Initiative.

Cho stated that over 16 billion NT$ has been invested in the first phase (2025–2026) of the initiative, and the government has now launched the call for proposals for the second phase (2027–2029). He expressed hope that more medical institutions and professional organizations will participate in the future.

He further announced that the National Health Insurance (NHI) budget has reached 1.0082 trillion NT$ for 2025, a significant 6.5% increase compared to the previous year. This marks a historic milestone, and the government plans to raise payment rates for medical services in high-complexity and high-risk specialties. Starting in the second half of 2025, over 3 billion NT$ will be allocated to increase payments for emergency, critical, difficult, rare (急重難罕), pediatric, and obstetric services.

Cho emphasized that Taiwan has entered a super-aging society, posing challenges such as healthcare workforce shortages. The government is actively building medical resilience and sustainability. President Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s first physician-turned-head-of-state, proposed the Health Taiwan Deepening Initiative to ensure health promotion and care for every citizen.

The initiative is a long-term, continuous program with a total investment of 48.9 billion NT$ over five years. In the first phase, 253 projects have been approved, with over 11.1 billion NT$ directly allocated. Combined with matching funds from medical institutions, the total investment exceeds 16 billion NT$. The goal is to establish an efficient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare model through smart technology, workforce development, institutional innovation, and cross-domain collaboration.

The second phase will solicit more innovative and sustainable proposals based on frontline clinical needs, deepen regional cooperation and tiered healthcare, and ensure that healthcare reform benefits every citizen.

Cho stressed that with stable national economic growth, the government aims not only to share economic gains with citizens but also to leverage national and medical sector strength, along with greater resources and funding, to safeguard public health. He outlined three pillars of Health Taiwan: (1) a robust NHI system and healthcare infrastructure; (2) excellent medical professionals and high-quality services; and (3) transforming the biomedicine industry into Taiwan’s next 'national fortress industry.'

To solidify these pillars, the government has begun implementing policies. On the NHI financial front, two historic records were set: departmental budgets reached the 5.5% growth cap approved by the Executive Yuan, and the total budget reached 1.0082 trillion NT$.

Regarding healthcare workforce conditions and quality improvement, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will comprehensively increase payments for complex and high-risk specialties. Over 3 billion NT$ will be allocated in the second half of 2025 to raise payment standards for emergency, critical, difficult, rare, pediatric, and obstetric services, ensuring greater respect and safety for top-tier talent.

Additionally, 12 strategic initiatives for nursing workforce preparedness have been proposed, including legalizing the nurse-to-patient ratio for all three shifts, aiming to increase nursing staff and retain talent.