President Lai Ching-te said Feb. 4 that the government is committed to improving people’s health in Taiwan during a prerecorded video released on World Cancer Day.
The president said that statistics from Switzerland-based International Union Against Cancer shows that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, adding that it has also ranked as the top cause of death in Taiwan for 43 consecutive years. Lai said that early screening, immediate treatment and the promotion of health are key to combating the disease.
According to Lai, the government’s goal is to reduce the standardized cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030. To this end, a national cancer prevention and treatment initiative has been launched, he said, adding that under the initiative, the government’s funding for cancer screening increased to NT$6.8 billion (US$215 million) last year from NT$ 2.8 billion in 2024, and the number of people undertaking screening also increased by 1.06 million in 2025 compared to the number in 2024.
The government is further advancing precision medical care capabilities and building databases in line with international standards through genetic testing, precision diagnosis and interministerial cooperation, Lai said.
A fund for new cancer drugs has also been established by the government, the president said. He added that as of last October, 20 new drugs and 16 expanded benefits were covered by the fund, aiding 12,300 patients with a spending of NT$12.2 billion. The president said that the government will continue to allocate money to ensure that the fund remains in operation.
Lai concluded by pledging to work with medical personnel and patients to safeguard the health of Taiwan’s people, who are an important force for the country’s future prosperity. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
The president said that statistics from Switzerland-based International Union Against Cancer shows that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, adding that it has also ranked as the top cause of death in Taiwan for 43 consecutive years. Lai said that early screening, immediate treatment and the promotion of health are key to combating the disease.
According to Lai, the government’s goal is to reduce the standardized cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030. To this end, a national cancer prevention and treatment initiative has been launched, he said, adding that under the initiative, the government’s funding for cancer screening increased to NT$6.8 billion (US$215 million) last year from NT$ 2.8 billion in 2024, and the number of people undertaking screening also increased by 1.06 million in 2025 compared to the number in 2024.
The government is further advancing precision medical care capabilities and building databases in line with international standards through genetic testing, precision diagnosis and interministerial cooperation, Lai said.
A fund for new cancer drugs has also been established by the government, the president said. He added that as of last October, 20 new drugs and 16 expanded benefits were covered by the fund, aiding 12,300 patients with a spending of NT$12.2 billion. The president said that the government will continue to allocate money to ensure that the fund remains in operation.
Lai concluded by pledging to work with medical personnel and patients to safeguard the health of Taiwan’s people, who are an important force for the country’s future prosperity. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News