Regarding media reports claiming the NT$10 billion Cancer Drug Fund is insufficient and that “patients may not receive timely access to new drugs,” the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) clarified that the Executive Yuan has allocated NT$5 billion in 2025 as a temporary budget for cancer drug reimbursement, with another NT$5 billion planned for 2026. Together, this will contribute to the NT$10 billion fund, and the NHIA will continue working to gradually realize the full scale.

The NHIA stated that before including any new cancer drugs, all cases undergo health technology assessment and expert review in line with international guidelines, while price negotiations ensure efficient use of the Cancer Drug Fund. For 2025, expenditures are estimated at about NT$2 billion, with the remaining funds carried forward. Together with an additional NT$5 billion budget in 2026, an estimated NT$70–80 billion will remain available for future drug inclusion. Unused funds will roll over each year, gradually reaching the NT$10 billion scale, reassuring patients of sufficient resources.

On February 25, 2025, the NHIA announced the “Provisional Cancer Drug Payment Guidelines” to provide a framework for implementation. During the provisional payment period, relevant data will be collected and submitted to the Joint Drug Review Committee to decide whether to include the drug in regular NHI reimbursement. With the support of a forward-looking budgeting mechanism, sufficient funds will be allocated to improve access to new cancer drugs and reduce the financial burden on patients.