To uphold President Ching-Te Lai's commitment to public health, Director General Lian-Yu Chen of the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) delivered a speech titled "NHI Reform and Healthy Taiwan" at the 2026 Healthy Taiwan National Forum held at Taipei Veterans General Hospital on May 3.

Director General Chen shared the implementation progress of the holistic integrated care in Xiulin Township, where Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital integrated resources from Xiulin Township Public Health Center and local healthcare providers to establish a person-centered care model through cross-institutional, interdisciplinary, and team-based collaboration. In addition, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital also introduced a comprehensive case management mechanism and shared its experience in training local health gatekeepers. The pilot program yielded remarkable achievement, enabling healthcare teams to improve public health through health promotion and disease prevention. The concept that "health is a better investment than treatment" is regarded as a key to NHI sustainability.

The NHIA first launched the Holistic Integrated Care Program in Remote and Rural Areas (hereinafter "Holistic Program") in Xiulin Township in 2022. This initiative produced significant results, including:

• An increase in tuberculosis screening rates among adults aged 35 to 64 years.
• Higher utilization of adult preventive health services.
• Improvement in biennial colon cancer screening rates.

All three indicators have surpassed the national average. Over the past three years, the program has reduced healthcare expenses while enhancing the overall quality of care for local residents.

In 2025, the implementation was expanded to nine more areas, 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 has further expanded the program to the following five locations: Wanrung Township, Zhuoxi Township, and Fengbin Township (Hualien County) and Haiduan Township and Lyudao Township (Taitung County). As of today, this initiative has been implemented in 14 townships across 8 counties and cities.

The NHIA has long supported healthcare in remote areas and remains committed to eliminating health inequalities, improving healthcare accessibility and enhancing healthcare quality. Working with front-line medical teams, the NHIA has established a holistic care model. Of the ten townships in Hualien and Taitung covered by the Integrated Delivery System (IDS) Program, six have transitioned to the Holistic Program. The NHIA will continue to expand the program, building a more resilient and sustainable healthcare framework.

▲Fig.1: Group photo of the 2026 Healthy Taiwan National Forum.

▲Fig.2: Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital conducted oral cancer screening in Xiulin Township as part of the Holistic Program.