Marching to the Cloud: Win-Win for the Patients and the Doctors, the Diary of the NHI Reform 3.0 has been published on October 6, 2022. Edition 1.0, published in May 2019, has described Taiwan's NHI program, its related health issues, and the rationale of policy making. Edition 2.0, published in April 2021, has also elaborated the basic concepts of the NHI, problems and solutions. This latest edition, Edition 3.0, is comprised of five sections including “Ideals," "Practice," "Technology," "Reform,” and “Care.” The contents include NHI sustainable development issues and the many efforts in using digital technologies to safeguard people's health during the pandemic. It is a must read if you want to know more about the dedication and contributions of NHI towards public health and your own NHI rights.
Dr. Po-Chang Lee, Director General of the NHIA, stated that the implementation of copayments and promotion of referrals have always been the core concepts of the NHIA. By rebuilding the trust between the public and local hospitals, people are encouraged to use local hospitals in their community instead academic hospitals, reducing overcrowded medical centers and the excessive workload of medical staff. In turn, referral might naturally fall into place.
Furthermore, introducing information technology in NHI and establishing infrastructure for health information have been key policy achievements in recent years. All the achievements of Taiwan NHI in implementing technology for the COVID-19 prevention have been recorded in Marching to the Cloud: Win-Win for the Patients and the Doctors, the Diary of the NHI Reform 3.0, including checking travel history through the NHI card, real-name registration for the COVID-19 prevention (mask purchase, vaccine appointments, and rapid antigen test purchase), NHI APP, My Health Bank, and Medical institution search (video consultations). Among the functions, the COVID-19 vaccination/virus test results on the NHI APP have become a good tool usually used by the public, demonstrating Taiwan NHI's commitment to safeguard people's health.
The book contains several cases of private resource involvement, such as the donation of abdominal ultrasound medical vehicles to St. Martin De Porres Hospital by Rotary International in March 1999, and the donation of NT$1.5 million to the NHI charity fund by an 80-year-old individual to help disadvantaged families pay their NHI premiums.
The communication between the NHIA and other sectors has also described in detail in the book Marching to the Cloud: Win-Win for the Patients and the Doctors, the Diary of the NHI Reform 3.0 including the results of the NHI reforms and digital transformations of NHI services. The book is for health practitioners, health insurance scholars, legal professionals, and people concerning about NHI issues. The book provides a certain profound understanding of Taiwan’s NHI program and will help maintain NHI’s sustainable management.
To read excerpts of and purchase Marching to the Cloud: Win-Win for the Patients and the Doctors, the Diary of the NHI Reform 3.0, please visit https://sharing.com.tw/product/index/5ND06.