Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of May 16, President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC) Congress in conjunction with the 56th Annual Convention & Scientific Session of the Taiwan Society of Cardiology (TSOC). In remarks, President Lai stated that last year Taiwan launched the Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan, an important part of which is introducing smart medicine and enhancing health data governance for better disease risk management. The president said that to address hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia – the so-called three highs, Taiwan launched the 888 Program for the Prevention and Treatment of the Three Highs. Through public-private collaboration, he added, we will work toward even earlier detection and intervention for chronic diseases, helping us make system-wide improvements in cardiovascular disease prevention and care, and bringing us closer to our vision of a Healthy Taiwan.

A transcript of President Lai's remarks follows:

A warm welcome to the cardiology experts joining us from across the Asia-Pacific. We are delighted to have you here in Taiwan to share your research and clinical experiences.

I want to thank everyone working in cardiovascular medicine – in research, clinical care, public health, and international cooperation. Your work on the frontlines is helping improve health and well-being for all.

Cardiovascular disease is a challenge. And aging populations and changing lifestyles are only making it harder to address. But advancements in AI and treatment technologies are giving us better tools in the fight against CVD.

Last year, we launched the Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan. An important part of our strategy is smart medicine: We are expanding telemedicine and making it a standard part of care. We are deploying AI-assisted diagnostics and clinical decision support tools. And we are enhancing health data governance for better disease risk management.

To make progress against CVD, we need to address root causes: hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia – the so-called three highs.

That is why we launched the Triple-eighty [888] Program for the Prevention and Treatment of the Three Highs. By 2030, the program aims to have 80 percent of patients in the shared care network, 80 percent of those patients receive lifestyle counseling, and 80 percent of cases under control.

We will keep working closely with our partners in civil society, such as the TSOC, which has earned a strong reputation in cardiac medicine globally. Through public-private collaboration, we will work toward even earlier detection and intervention for chronic diseases. This will help us make system-wide improvements in CVD prevention and care, bringing us closer to our vision of a Healthy Taiwan.

Today's conference is an important part of our vision. So let me thank the organizing committee for bringing it together. And to all of you here – I am confident your exchanges will open new doors for CVD prevention and care, making even greater contributions to global cardiovascular [health].

I wish this conference every success. And to our guests from abroad, I hope you take the time to experience what makes Taiwan special: the food, the scenery, and – most of all – the warmth of our people. Thank you.