Korea and Taiwan Strengthen Health Insurance Cooperation Network to Address Super-Aged Society

Sharing Achievements in Health Insurance Operations
and Innovative Cases in Digital Health

The National Health Insurance Service announced on the 18th that it held a meeting on the 17th with senior officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA). During the meeting, both sides shared their experiences and achievements in operating their respective systems and agreed to expand exchanges and cooperation for the sustainable development of health insurance systems.

On the 17th, Shih Chung-Liang, Minister of Health and Welfare of Taiwan (first from the left), who visited the National Health Insurance Service, is having a meeting with Eom Hoyoon, Executive Director of Planning at the National Health Insurance Service (fourth from the left). National Health Insurance Service

Taiwan, which implemented a universal national health insurance system in 1995 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has been facing intensifying challenges of low birth rates and an aging population. In response, since June last year, Taiwan has established the "Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee" to discuss ways to provide sustainable universal healthcare services.

Through this visit, the two countries sought ways to overcome the crises resulting from low birth rates and the transition to a super-aged society. They discussed topics of mutual interest, including sharing the achievements of health and long-term care insurance systems, designing insurance premiums and benefit items, and future operational directions to ensure the sustainability of the systems, as well as primary care management. The National Health Insurance Service also shared its successful cases of digital health and data-driven healthcare innovation.

Shih Chung-Liang, Minister of Health and Welfare of Taiwan, said, "Like Korea, Taiwan has recently entered a super-aged society, which has led to deep concerns about rising medical and welfare costs for the elderly, a shrinking working-age population, and the management of non-covered services. I was able to learn a lot about Korea's non-covered services reporting system, and I hope that this visit will further strengthen the health insurance policy cooperation network between our two countries, providing an opportunity to enhance the sustainability of system development and financial stability."

Eom Hoyoon, Executive Director of Planning at the National Health Insurance Service, said, "Taiwan is an exemplary partner that has responded innovatively to the financial challenges posed by entering a super-aged society. Through continued policy exchanges and cooperation on health and long-term care insurance systems, we hope to contribute to improving the quality of life for people in both countries. In particular, we look forward to strategic cooperation with Taiwan in the areas of digital health and enhancing the quality of public services using artificial intelligence (AI), which are key priorities for the National Health Insurance Service."