Newly-appointed Director-general of the Department of Health (DOH) Lee Ming-liang
Lee said the group is led by the National Health Research Institute (國家衛生研究院) and is made up of consumer representatives, doctors and public health workers.
"I know politics are troublesome, but I am ready to confront it," Lee said. "Seeking the greatest balance of interests [public health insurance for everyone] will be the priority [issue] during my term," Lee said, adding that the group will look for a feasible -- rather than an idealistic -- solution.
"Public health awareness will be another emphasis of my future policy. I will promise to implement better public health education during my term."
Lee also pointed to other problems in the health care system.
"In the past Taiwan focused on medical treatment but overlooked overall public health," Lee said -- a practice he said he would like to change.
The issue of public health insurance looms large as a potential burden for the new government due to its heavy financial losses, as well as a controversial debate over the possibility of raising insurance premiums.
Official statistics show local governments owe debts to the central government because of public health insurance expenditures amounting to the tune of NT$28,400,000,000 -- the main source of the insurance program's deficit.
A group of 15 lawmakers brought problems and suggestions regarding health-related issues to Lee's attention yesterday, focusing mainly on whether public health insurance is a form of social welfare or an insurance system -- each of which requires a different approach.
Lee said he had no predisposed attitude toward the notion, saying that should be decided by the public. "If the people want it to be social welfare, they should be mentally prepared to pay more taxes for it."
Another problem brought up by the group was the imbalance of subsidies in public health insurance, a problem which has caused an overcrowding of patients in large-scale hospitals, while leaving regional hospitals or clinics virtually empty.
"This will make community hospitals disappear," said DPP legislator Chen Chao-nan (陳昭南).
Some said the subsidy problem was widely believed to be the main reason for the lack of surgeons in Taiwan, because the system treats both general practioners and specialists the same when it comes to subsidy payments.
"It's really a very serious problem," Lee admitted. "I am afraid there could be no surgeons left in 10 years."
Lee said the ad hoc group will look into all the facts of public health insurance, but added much would depend on public response.
"Decisions have to depend on public consensus," Lee said.
Lee is currently the president of the Tzu Chi College of Medicine and Humanities -- and lawmakers attending the meeting later said he had responded to their questions and suggestions in a frank and straightforward way -- which they described as the "scholar's style."
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the nation compared with those in China, the source said. However, the videos have caught the attention of Chinese officials, causing the spouses to come under attack by Beijing’s cyberarmy, they said. “People have been messing with the YouTube channels of these Chinese spouses and have been harassing their family members back in China,”
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan. The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the moment, along with Typhoon Yinxing and tropical storms Toraji and Manyi, the CWA said. It would be the first time that four tropical cyclones exist simultaneously in November, it added. Records from the meteorology agency showed that three tropical cyclones existed concurrently in January in 1968, 1991 and 1992.
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