An overview of the healthcare system in Taiwan

Taiwan adopted a national health insurance system in 1995. It is a government administered insurance-based national healthcare system. Although, like the UK, Taiwan has a single payer system for healthcare, there are several differences between the two systems. The characteristics of the Taiwanese system include good accessibility, comprehensive population coverage, short waiting times, relatively low costs and a national health insurance databank for planning, monitoring and evaluating health services. The weaknesses include variable quality of care, a weak gatekeeper role and increasing financial pressures.