Reported 12 months ago
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) officially relinquished control in March this year, cancelling the registration fee cap for hospitals and clinics, returning to a market-driven mechanism. However, during questioning on July 1, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin Shu-fen exposed that a hospital in Southern Taiwan charges as high as NT$6,000 for registration fees, allowing those who pay this amount to be prioritized for bed allocation, even offering a NT$50 discount for leaving a five-star review online. Lin criticized MOHW officials for turning a blind eye as the trend of increasing out-of-pocket expenses continues. Concerns were raised by Lin regarding the inequality in Taiwan's healthcare system, where public medical resources are shrinking while the private healthcare sector expands. As a result, affluent individuals can access quality medical services, while those with lower economic means may face a shortage of medical resources. Lin cited an example of a friend who urgently needed intubation but couldn't secure a bed, having to seek help from a legislator. MOHW Minister, Chiu Tai-yuan, acknowledged the issue and pledged to investigate further regarding the practice of offering a NT$6,000 registration fee to expedite bed allocation. Chiu expressed that although the registration fee data displayed in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system is accurate, special registration fees and out-of-pocket expenses will not be shown. Major medical centers almost rely on revenue from sources like food streets, parking lots, and the private market to sustain operation. Chiu commented that clinics with higher registration fees naturally attract fewer patients. This situation highlights the ongoing concern about the prioritization of healthcare based on financial capabilities in Taiwan.
Source: YAHOO