As population aging accelerates, conventional disease-centered healthcare models are insufficient to meet the needs of residents in remote areas. In 2022, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) first implemented the Holistic Integrated Care Program in Remote and Rural Areas (hereinafter "Holistic Program") in Xiulin Township, Hualien County. By 2025, the Program had been implemented in nine areas nationwide.
According to the patient follow-up data from Xiulin Township over the past three years, healthcare expenses for patients with medium and high risks have significantly recreased and the majority of healthcare resources have been directed toward healthy and low-risk populations. These results demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in improving overall healthcare quality for local residents, while also generating replicable implementation experience. Therefore, the NHIA plans to expand the program to at least five additional areas in 2026.
Director General Lian-Yu Chen stated that the NHIA has long promoted the Integrated Delivery System (IDS) Program to enhance healthcare access in remote and rural areas and narrow the gap between urban and rural communities. The implementation of the Holistic Integrated Care Model aims to further improve healthcare quality by integrating healthcare services, disease prevention, health promotion, and community care.
The Holistic Program has been implemented in Xiulin Township since 2022. By integrating resources from Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Xiulin Township Public Health Center, and local medical and care providers, a cross-institutional and interdisciplinary team was established. The Xiulin model emphasizes "health promotion as the priority, supported by medical treatment," and is aligned with the long-term care system. This program has developed a person-centered service supported by a comprehensive case management mechanism.
Director General Lian-Yu Chen emphasized that, based on Xiulin Township's experience, the model was expanded to nine more areas in 2025, including Beigan Township (Lienchiang County), Datong Township (Yilan County), Fuxing District (Taoyuan City), Sinyi Township (Nantou County), Dapu Township (Chiayi County), Maolin District, Tauyuan District, and Namasia District (Kaohsiung City), and Xiulin Township (Hualien County).
In 2026, the NHIA will further expand the program to include the following five townships: Wanrung Township, Zhuoxi Township, and Fengbin Township (Hualien County) and Haiduan Township and Lyudao Township (Taitung County). These IDS areas will be supported in transitioning to the Holistic Program, addressing challenges such as sparse populations and uneven distribution of medical resources. At the same time, the NHIA will continue strengthening regional healthcare networks to develop integrated care models tailored to local needs.
The Holistic Program represents a milestone in building a comprehensive, all-stage, and community-based health protection network. The NHIA will continue to review implementation outcomes and keep its focus on health promotion and disease prevention. Furthermore, the NHIA will allocate incentives to healthcare providers for care services, safeguard residents in remote areas, and build a resilient healthcare system to achieve the "Healthy Taiwan" policy.