Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged a review of the current National Health Insurance program Saturday, citing its heavy financial losses.
Chen made the comments while receiving a group of local medical leaders at his office. The president said that the huge financial burden of the program has depleted the government's coffers and curbed its ability to start new programs.
Citing the 2001 government budget as an example, Chen said it had to be increased by NT$92 billion (US$2.96 billion), with some NT$62 billion (US$2 billion) slated for reimbursing the medical program's losses. An additional sum of more than NT$20 billion (US$645 milliion) will cover the pay raise of public employees.
As a result, the government lacks the financial means to launch new initiatives, said Chen. He urged the Department of Health to review the program and come up with a way of alleviating the millstone weighing the government down.