To provide cancer patients with more treatment options, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) further expanded NHI coverage for several cancer drugs on October 1, 2026, in line with international treatment guidelines. For cancers with limited treatment options, such as esophageal cancer and head and neck cancer, the expanded coverage includes immune checkpoint inhibitors that are supported by strong clinical evidence and recommended in the guidelines issued by the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). At the same time, the NHIA has enhanced medication coverage for rare diseases, expanding treatment options for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and Fabry disease.

Director General Lian-Yu Chen of the NHIA stated that, as cancer treatments rapidly evolve, the NHIA draws on international treatment trends and clinical evidence to carefully assess the clinical benefits of new therapies. The goal is to provide patients with more timely and appropriate treatment options while alleviating the financial burden on patients and their families.

For cancer treatment, drugs containing tislelizumab have been added to NHI coverage, providing an alternative immunotherapy option for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. This therapy is strongly supported and listed as one of the preferred treatment options in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines. The NHIA has also expanded coverage to include additional treatment options for several cancers, including lung cancer. Coverage for pembrolizumab, another immune checkpoint inhibitor, now includes first-line treatment for patients with metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This treatment is closely aligned with international guidelines as it is listed in the NCCN Guidelines as a preferred treatment option.

In addition, drugs containing mogamulizumab are now reimbursable for adult patients with mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome requiring systemic therapy, regardless of their CD30 expression status. Furthermore, CAR-T cell therapy containing axicabtagene ciloleucel is now covered for certain adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or high-grade B-cell lymphoma, providing an additional treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. This expansion of cancer drug coverage is expected to benefit around 2,600 patients, with the NHIA allocating approximately NT$1.976 billion for pharmaceutical expenses.

In terms of rare diseases, the NHIA continues to address patients’treatment needs and has expanded NHI coverage to include drugs containing pegcetacoplan for patients with PNH. The therapy is indicated for patients who have had a suboptimal response to existing C5 complement inhibitor treatment, including those whose hemolysis remains poorly controlled. In addition, NHI coverage for oral medication for Fabry disease has been expanded to include patients aged 12 years and older, down from age 16. This change provides adolescent patients who currently receive intravenous enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) every two weeks with a more convenient oral treatment option.

Beyond cancer and rare diseases, the NHIA continues to refine NHI coverage for cardiovascular disease medications in response to clinical needs. The latest revisions have expanded coverage for drugs containing rivaroxaban and more precisely defined the reimbursement criteria related to the frequency of cardiovascular events and peripheral arterial stenosis. These revisions aim to provide eligible patients with timely and appropriate treatment and are expected to benefit more than 12,000 patients, with the NHIA allocating approximately NT$59 million for pharmaceutical expenses.

Director General Chen emphasized that the NHIA will continue to prioritize patients’ treatment needs and carefully evaluate new drugs and therapies based on clinical evidence and effectiveness. This approach aims to balance patients’medication needs with the financial sustainability of the NHI program, maximize the health benefits of limited resources, and further improve healthcare accessibility and quality in pursuit of the vision of“Healthy Taiwan.”