Shih Chung-liang, head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, led a delegation to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy Sept. 15-16 in Seoul.
The minister shared Taiwan’s experiences and accomplishments in building a healthy, aging-responsive society, which he grouped into three broad categories.
The adoption of artificial intelligence and other digital tools to transform health systems is the government’s first tactic. Shih briefed attendees on three national AI centers established to enhance transparency and clinical evaluation as well as to expedite validation.
Shih also shared that the government has allotted a four-year budget of NT$120 billion (US$3.9 billion) for the promotion of active aging, an especially important consideration in a super-aged society. The minister said of the third topic, teenagers’ mental health, that a national resilience promotion plan establishes a learning platform to facilitate mental health education and includes subsidies for free psychological counseling.
The minister held bilateral talks with major member economies to discuss global health issues including the evaluation of medical technology and the prevention of contagious diseases. To gain insight into the country’s mechanisms, Shih visited Wonju City-based National Health Insurance Service. (POC-E)
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