As part of our ongoing initiative to establish a Joint Learning Network on Universal Health Coverage, R4D hosted Dr. Tsung-Mei Cheng of Princeton University for a seminar on Taiwan’s national health insurance system, which was set up in the 1990s.

In her presentation, Dr. Cheng explained the success factors in Taiwan’s health system reform, highlighting the importance of strong political leadership and the use of sophisticated information technology. She also addressed the challenges Taiwan encountered at the time of reform and the ongoing issues it faces, including public opposition to higher insurance contribution rates and persistent budget deficits in the insurance system.

The seminar with Dr. Cheng comes on the heels of the “Joint Learning Workshop: Moving Toward Universal Health Coverage” held in Gurgaon, India from February 2-5, where six Asian and African countries pursuing health financing reforms assembled to share their experiences and challenges. A representative of the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan, Sun Hau-Chuen, gave a presentation at the workshop on the Taiwanese smartcard and its role in national health insurance.