10 Positions for Universal Healthcare
In 2008, Ma Ying Jeoh and Vincent Siew, if entrusted by the people, will revitalize Taiwan’s Medical industry, provide universal security and obtain efficient healthcare through the following:
1.
Create elderly insurance within the next four years.Under the trend of an aging population, a low birthrate and working families, if a family faces illness or mobility problems, they will have a huge burden to bear. We advocate for the creation of elderly care insurance within the next four years which would use the power of the government to get proper care to elderly people, reduce the burden of care on families, promote multifaceted human development, and help elderly workers have a space within the workforce.
2.
Expand the Health insurance subsidy with the aim of reducing the burden on low income households.At present, the standard definition of low-income households is too harsh , so that many low-income families often can not afford the premiums or the burden of premiums is too difficult. We advocate the full premium subsidy to low income households. Families between 120% and 150% of the low income threshold will have their NHI premiums reduced by 40 to 20%.
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3.
Priority healthcare for disadvantaged groups and quality healthcare for everyone.
After the implementation of national health insurance, the health gap between urban and rural, north and south, rich and poor, and between the Aboriginals and the Han has not been reduced. Therefore, we propose to deploy public health resources (funding and manpower) in response to the age and population distribution. Focusing specifically on low income households, sufferers of rare diseases, and disadvantaged inhabitants of mountainous or outlying areas, we want to increase access to medicine and preventative care.
4.
Declare war on cancer. Achieve a 10% reduction in cancer mortality over the next four years.Cancer is the largest cause of death within this country and has had a high mortality rate for decades. We advocate that liver cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer , oral cancer, prostate cancer (The second, third , fourth, sixth, seventh highest mortality rates) as the new focus for cancer prevention. By promoting cancer screening and improving
treatment quality, we will reduce the mortality rate due to cancer by 10% over the next four years.
5.
Provide free dentures to the elderly and expand dental care for children and the disabled.We aim to expand dental care standards, especially by improving service for children and the disabled. Towards low income seniors, we want give free dentures, depending on the government’s financial situation, we will expand the subsidy year by year.
6.
Establish a Food Safety Committee to promote healthy sanitary labeling.99
To effectively address the current sinister smuggling of food, pesticide residues, food poisoning and the spread of false advertising and other food issues, we advocate the establishment under the Executive Yuan of a "Food Hygiene and Safety Committee." We will increase grants and incentives for cities and counties to for investigations into food safety. We will also promote healthy food standards for all kinds of food and catering industries. We want to establish a consumer environment where people can be confident in their food. We also want to promote school, workplace and community nutrition education.
7.
Ensure sustainable health care by increasing health investment to 7.5% of GDP.Health is the foundation of national competitiveness, and to protect the health rights of people, after pushing future measures to cut costs, if there are still gaps in healthcare finance, the government will provide subsidies. At the same time, the government should regularly review health insurance policy, institutions, and finances and amend the law in a timely fashion. It should also increase penalties for the illegal theft of health care resources, so as to meet the expectation of all walks of life and pursue sustainable
development. Moreover, with the aging population and advances in technology, medicine and health expenditure as a percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product, GDP) should be increased gradually from 6.2% to 7.5%. In order to enhance national health, we will invest in preventive care, chronic and infectious disease prevention, quality of care, health insurance, and care for disadvantaged groups.
8.
Promote healthcare quality and medication safety in the pharmaceutical sector.The use of medication by Taiwanese people is very large, the rate of dialysis is also quite high. This indicates an urgent need to enhance medication safety. We advocate that during the administrative process of administering medication, there should be a mechanism where the pharmacist and the doctor both agree on the medication thereby increasing the appropriateness of the medication and professional service and protecting the rights and interests of the people.
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9.
Create No Fault accident relief measures.The results of medical intervention are highly uncertain, so even with the best standards of care, a patient may encounter unexpected adverse outcomes. This can cause tension, difficulty and conflict in the patient doctor relationship. The government will thus set up a “no fault accidental medical aid approach” with an accompanying fund to set a
cumulative ceiling and rules for compensation.
10.
Doubling research grants for medical R&D to accelerate scientific medicine.
In contrast to the information industry, government resources will promote the
development and integration of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry by doubling research and development grants, enhancing global competitiveness. We encourage Western and Chinese medicine advocates to collaborate and work together to strengthen clinical education, drug management, and construct a clinical efficacy evaluation system.
This will facilitate a medical and drug safety environment and making Chinese and Western medicine more modern and scientific.