On Sep. 8, Dr. Po-Chang Lee, director general of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration, was invited to China Medical University Hospital to attend the opening ceremony for ‘Telemedicine services in Xinyi Township, Nantou County’. Telemedicine services were displayed on site and demonstrated how technology can narrow the gap between urban and rural areas. It is estimated that 16,000 residents in Xinyi Township will benefit from the service.
Starting from 2001, The Integrated Delivery System (IDS) Plan has encouraged hospitals to provide outpatient/emergency services, mobile health care across villages, home care and health promoting activities in remote and mountainous areas at fixed locations or on a rotating basis. This plan is supported by China Medical University Hospital and the local health centers, along with rehabilitation specialists, cardiology specialists, thoracic physicians, psychiatrists, obstetricians and gynecologists as well as pediatric neurologists from nearby hospitals. There are about NT$90 million medical expenditures throughout the year in Xinyi County paid by the NHI program and the satisfaction has reached up to 98%. Dr. Lee recognized the effort made by the team of China Medical University Hospital. The accessibility to medical services in Xinyi County, Nantou City has since been greatly improved.
Dr. Lee said that physicians from the city are able to offer outpatient care in remote and mountainous areas. It is expected that cooperation among interdisciplinary professions and development of information communication technology can offer more specialist treatment. Furthermore, to provide more specialist cares, the NHIA is working on increasing the budget for telemedicine service and extending the categories within the NHI program.