The debate over the new fees of the national health insurance system raged on yesterday as opposition lawmakers vowed to stage a massive protest if the Bureau of National Health Insurance insists on raising premium and co-payment rates.
Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (
PFP lawmaker Lin Hui-kuan (
The bureau has said it will adjust the fees upward, effective Sept. 1, to help ease its financial woes. The Department of Health (DOH) has voiced support for the planned hikes, which do not require legislative approval to go into effect.
But Lin argued that the legislature adopted a resolution during its last session that orders the bureau to obtain consent from its Sanitation, Environment, and Social Welfare Committee before seeking to tinker with the fee payments.
"The bureau probably thinks it can get around legislative oversight by making the policy change during the summer recess," said Lin, a former labor union leader.
He threatened to organize a massive street protest at the end of August if the government fails to heed his plea.
Fellow PFP lawmaker Kao Ming-chien (
But Kao said that medical institutions are to blame, as they tend to prescribe loosely in a bid to boost their revenue.
He suggested that the government contribute more funds to the health insurance program, which accounts for only 5.35 percent of the nation's GDP.
"The figure is rather low in comparison with those in advanced countries such as Japan, Canada, Germany and the US," Kao said.
The health insurance program, introduced in 1995, derives almost all its funding from premium revenue that is shared or subsidized, in various proportions, by the insured, their employers and the government.
Beneficiaries are also required to co-pay a portion of medical costs to prevent the wasting and misuse of medical recourses.
During a public appearance, President Chen said it is time to review the program and decide whether it should continue to exist or be terminated.
"Shortly after the power transfer [in May 2000], DOH Director-general Lee Ming-liang (
The financing of the health insurance system is built around the "pay as you go" concept, which means the collection of premiums and the payment of medical expenses happens at the same time.
"We can't expect the program to stay viable while denying it the necessary funding," the president said.
The health program allows those who are insured to obtain comprehensive medical care -- including health prevention, clinical care, hospitalization and social rehabilitation. As of December 2000, it has enrolled over 21 million citizens, or 96 percent of the population.
Chen conceded, however, that there is ample room for the service to improve and that the DOH cannot shake its responsibility for the cash shortage.
The main opposition KMT pointed out that the DOH promised earlier this year not to raise fees before the end of 2003 when it sought support for revisions to health laws.
"How can the department make such a turnabout within such a short period of time?" KMT legislative leader Tseng Yung-chuan asked reporters later in the day.
Tseng said his party would take drastic measures if the Cabinet goes through with the plan to increase fees.
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