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NHI and surrogacy laws set to be changed by new governmentJan 15, 2024

Following the results of the 2024 presidential election, the new government's top priority after taking office is to reform the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, and financial sustainability is a major issue that needs to be addressed urgently. Minister of Health and Welfare Jui-yuan Hsueh (薛瑞元) said on 14th January that healthcare policy faces two challenges, the first being the revision of the NHI legislation, which is a "very big and difficult task", and the second being the "Artificial Reproduction Act", which has become inevitable and must be dealt with as a matter of priority.

Hsueh reiterated that the meeting will be held to seek consensus through discussion across the board, as healthcare involves legislative changes, budgeting, reimbursement and taxation, with all changes involving buyers, payers and healthcare providers. A consensus must be reached, "which is a very big and very difficult task," as Hsueh described it.

In response to low birth rates, the healthcare industry is looking forward to the amendment of the Artificial Reproduction Act being passed. The new government will have to tackle the challenge of surrogacy legislation, despite the technical and ethical disputes this raises.