Healthy Taiwan Expands Screenings: President Aims to Reduce Cancer Mortality by One-Third by 2030

(Central News Agency reporter Hong Xuegao, Kaohsiung, 6th) President Lai Ching-te attended the "Healthy Taiwan Deep Cultivation Forum" today, delivering a speech centered on the four main themes of "Health, Prosperity, Happiness, and Democracy." He emphasized that the government will expand cancer screenings, striving to reduce the national cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030.

Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital held the "69th Anniversary Series Events – Healthy Taiwan Deep Cultivation Forum" this afternoon. The forum focused on the promotion of the Healthy Taiwan policy, covering topics such as health governance, smart healthcare, sustainable health insurance, health equity, medical resilience, and community integrated care, facilitating discussions on the achievements and future direction of the Healthy Taiwan policy.

In his speech, President Lai outlined the national development blueprint with the four themes of "Healthy Taiwan, Prosperous Taiwan, Happy Taiwan, and Democratic Taiwan." He stated that as Taiwan's first president with a medical background, he has been constantly thinking about what services he can provide to the people of Taiwan. Therefore, the "Healthy Taiwan" initiative declares the goal of reducing cancer mortality by one-third by 2030.

Specific measures include the government's comprehensive expansion of publicly-funded cancer screening to cover six major cancers: breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, and gastric cancer. In terms of chronic disease prevention and control, the "888 Plan" aims to increase the average healthy life expectancy of the people by 3 years by 2032.

The President stated that the government will promote the "New AI 10 Major Constructions," which includes talent cultivation, computing infrastructure, and data center construction. This initiative will leverage Taiwan's semiconductor advantages to advance the development of quantum computers, transforming the dynamic from all industries supporting the tech industry to the tech industry supporting all industries, helping small and medium-sized enterprises across Taiwan upgrade and transform, and embedding smart technology into all sectors.

The President also mentioned that Taiwan's economic growth rate has been impressive in recent years, even astonishing foreign guests, and therefore the fruits of economic growth should be shared by all citizens. Through government-led wage increases, tax cuts, and expanded social welfare, approximately 40% to half of the people in Taiwan are now exempt from paying comprehensive income tax, effectively reducing the burden on people's lives.

The President particularly emphasized that all of Taiwan's development is based on a free and democratic society. He stated that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, with a subjectivity different from that of the People's Republic of China. Without democracy, there is no freedom or human rights. He called for demonstrating the direction of democratic Taiwan's national development to the international community and urged the people to unite in defending the hard-won achievements of democracy.

Shih Chung-liang gave a presentation titled "Resilient and Sustainable, Healthy Taiwan," sharing the achievements and future plans of the Healthy Taiwan Deep Cultivation Project. In response to the aging society and rapid changes in the medical environment, the government is actively promoting the introduction of smart technology, medical talent cultivation, optimization of the medical environment, and the construction of a resilient medical system. Through cross-ministerial integration and digital transformation, the goal is to build a more sustainable healthcare system and comprehensively enhance the nation's medical resilience.

Attendees at today's event also included Professor Chen Chih-hung, Deputy Convener of the Presidential Office's Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee; Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang; Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration Chen Liang-yu; and Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration Shen Ching-fen. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150606