President Lai Ching-te, along with New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, recently visited the Gongliao Health Center to inspect its operations. During the visit, President Lai announced that the Executive Yuan approved the second phase of the "Rural Healthcare Enhancement Program" this April. This initiative plans to invest NT$6.3 billion from this year until 2027, aiming to enhance local healthcare workforce, improve primary care service capacity, strengthen emergency medical response capabilities, and establish emergency transfer mechanisms.
Accompanied by Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan, Mayor Hou Yu-ih, and legislators Su Chiao-hui and Wang Cheng-hsueh, President Lai visited the Gongliao Health Center in the Gongliao District. There, Health Center Director Lin Chung-yi presented how the center collaborates with three hospitals, three health centers, and over 30 partner organizations to create a comprehensive long-term care network for the elderly in the northeastern region of Taiwan.
President Lai emphasized that the scope of "Healthy Taiwan" is broad, with a particular focus on healthcare in remote areas. Due to the transportation and medical challenges these regions face, it is the government's responsibility to review and address these issues to ensure that the health rights of residents are not compromised, thereby protecting their health and lives. During his tenure as Vice President, from 2019 to 2023, NT$300 million was allocated to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for this purpose. The second phase, running from this year to 2027, will allocate NT$6.3 billion to ensure that residents in remote areas receive the same level of medical services as those in urban areas.
Lai also noted that cancer has been the leading cause of death in Taiwan for 42 consecutive years. To combat cancer, NT$6 billion has been allocated for cancer screening this year and next. Current screening efforts focus on breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer, and colorectal cancer, with plans to include lung cancer in the future. Additionally, to ensure effective treatment, the budget for 2024 and 2025 will include NT$10 billion for a new cancer drug fund. Efforts will also be made to establish collaborations between medical centers, regional hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare services.
Looking ahead, Lai emphasized that Taiwan is expected to enter a "super-aged society" by 2025. The budget for long-term care has grown from NT$5 billion in 2016 to NT$87.6 billion this year, with a planned allocation of NT$92.7 billion for next year. He also acknowledged that the number of long-term care service points in New Taipei City has increased from 60 in 2017 to 1,705 last year, and expressed gratitude to Mayor Hou Yu-ih for his cooperation in promoting long-term care policies.
Lai stated that under the "Healthy Taiwan" initiative, the government will continue to promote "Long-Term Care 3.0," focusing on improving service quality at care centers, providing respite care programs, promoting public welfare institutions, and strengthening home and community care. The goal is to integrate social welfare, long-term care services, and healthcare, creating a more comprehensive system that ensures elderly residents and patients receive excellent medical and caregiving services.
Mayor Hou Yu-ih also spoke about the city's response to the aging society, highlighting New Taipei City's "Healthcare and Active Aging" policy. This policy aims to transform and upgrade health centers, promote "Smart Health Centers," and strengthen the "New Taipei Rural Long-Term Care All-in-One Plan," which enhances the functions of rural health centers by integrating public health, medical services, and long-term care with smart technology to provide home care and home medical services, ensuring that rural residents receive comprehensive, integrated health care.
Before inspecting the Gongliao Health Center, President Lai visited the Wangfu Day Care Center, where he listened to staff members introduce the center's history and surrounding environment. He then engaged with the elderly at the center, participating in a hands-on floral arrangement activity. Lai also gifted his floral creation to one of the elderly residents, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere.
Resource (mandarin): 偏鄉醫療照護一條龍！ 賴清德總統任內將投入63億元強化4大計畫
