Lai touts Taiwan's precision oncology push

賴清德力推台灣精準腫瘤醫療發展

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) lauded Taiwan’s efforts in cancer research and treatment in a video address marking the 20th anniversary of the Taiwan Society for Molecular Medicine on Sunday.

Lai said the government is actively implementing various strategies, including boosting funding for cancer screening from NT$2.8 billion (US$88.48 million) to NT$6.8 billion and expanding screening items, target groups, and age ranges, according to the Presidential Office. The measures are expected to benefit nearly 6 million people, the president said.

Lai said Taiwan also began including next-generation sequencing (NGS) in National Health Insurance coverage in May 2024, covering 19 types of cancer. In December of the same year, the government expanded coverage to include seven types of single-gene testing, he added. This September, applicable cancer types were broadened, allowing more cancer patients to benefit, the president said.

“Through NGS, we aim to more comprehensively map the genetic profile of cancer cells, helping doctors identify appropriate treatments for patients and turning relevant medical data into the basis for new drug evaluation and improved therapies,” Lai said.

At the same time, the Cancer New Drug Fund has been allocated NT$10 billion over the past two years to help economically disadvantaged cancer patients access innovative treatments and reduce their financial burden, Lai said. Taiwan possesses strong biomedical R&D capabilities and a comprehensive healthcare system, he added, and the government will continue to invest resources and improve policies in the field.

Molecular medicine will continue to transform approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, he said.