To achieve the vision of a “Healthy Taiwan,” the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) is aligning cancer treatment protocols with international standards, improving precision treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC), and reducing the financial burden on patients.

In December 2025, the NHIA approved changes to reimbursement requirements for two targeted therapies used in first-line CRC treatments. As CRC treatment evolves with new drugs and clinical experience, the NHIA has shifted from fixed regimens to personalized treatments based on disease progression.

• Starting February 1, 2026, the NHIA will lift restrictions on cetuximab- and panitumumab-containing drugs, improving treatment flexibility and aligning with international trends.
• For CRC patients with the BRAF V600E mutation, the NHIA has approved the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab as a second-line therapy. This marks the first reimbursed treatment for BRAF V600E mutation-positive CRC patients, offering an extension of progression-free survival by 2.8 months and overall survival by 3.4 months. The policy, expected to be implemented by March 1, 2026, will benefit approximately 1,548 patients. With a total annual drug cost of NT$460 million (each patient could save NT$920,000 to NT$2.4 million per year).

Director General Lian-Yu Chen emphasized that the NHIA continues to align with international guidelines and include new drugs in the reimbursement system. Through Power BI Dashboards, the NHIA integrates screening and medical data to monitor patient care and remind hospitals to follow up on delayed diagnoses or treatments.

In 2024, 78% of those who screened positive for CRC received timely colonoscopies, and 91% of suspected cancer patients began treatment. This integrated approach improves early diagnosis, strengthens preventive care, and enhances the quality of continuous CRC care.