Hospitals would be subsidized for increased costs when electricity rates are hiked on Oct. 16, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said on Wednesday.
Electricity costs are set to rise by an average of 12.5 percent for industrial users and the medical community has been asking about subsidies to help it cope with the increase, the ministry said.
Prices increased 11 percent on average in April and were set to increase again by 14 percent this month following a resolution by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
However, after taking into account domestic demand and a decline in industrial output, increases for some users were halved or frozen, resulting in an average increase of 12.5 percent, the economic ministry said.
In a news release issued in response to concerns by hospitals and clinics, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) said that the increase would not apply to clinics that use only as much power as a small business.
Regional hospitals would face an increase, but would be subsidized by the government as per normal practice, Taipower said.
Hospitals and large medical centers would assist with energy-saving measures to reduce the burden of electricity costs, it said.
“The Executive Yuan will fully subsidize regional hospitals for the price hike, which is expected to total about NT$300 million” (US$9.39 million), MOHW Department of Medical Affairs Deputy Director-General Liu Yu-ching (劉玉菁) said.
“That will come from the NT$100 billion budgeted annually for Taipower,” she added.
As the money would come from funds allocated by the Executive Yuan to subsidize Taipower, the health ministry would still need to discuss the reallocation with the Executive Yuan, Liu said, adding that National Health Insurance expenditure would factor into the discussion.
Regardless of what hospitals have asked for, the subsidies are guaranteed in the Electricity Act (電業法), she said.
For example, the Social and Family Affairs Administration could prepare a budget in accordance with the law to cover the additional expenses caused by any increase in electricity prices, Liu said.
“However, the act does not stipulate medical institutions. Unless the law is revised to include them, implementing such a special budget might be difficult in practice,” she said.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators