Medical Sector Urges Lifting of Payment Restrictions for Acute Leukemia; NHIA: Rolling Review
The Hematology Society of Taiwan urged the government to expand National Health Insurance coverage for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) treatments, including NGS and targeted drugs. The NHIA responded that they will conduct rolling reviews based on clinical evidence to align with international guidelines.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 18:20
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 18:31 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 19:05 (33 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 19th) Acute leukemia deteriorates rapidly. The Hematology Society of Taiwan suggested today breaking the restrictions and mutually exclusive clauses of National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursements, and expanding the types of cancers covered by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) stated that it will conduct rolling reviews of reimbursement regulations based on empirical evidence to actively align with international standards.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common acute blood cancer in adults that progresses rapidly and is highly malignant, accounting for about 32.2%. There are nearly a thousand new cases in Taiwan every year, and more than half of them are people over 65 years old. AML deteriorates rapidly, and if not treated in time, it can be fatal due to infection or bleeding within weeks to months.
The Hematology Society of Taiwan today suggested optimizing NHI reimbursements, emphasizing three major directions: early and precise medication, aligning treatments with international guidelines, and improving comprehensive care. They hope that NGS reimbursement will be included for AML, the applicable targets of targeted drugs will be continuously expanded, and the "mutually exclusive reimbursement" clauses will be broken to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care at all stages of fighting cancer.
Chang Hui-ping, a counselor at the Medical Review and Pharmaceutical Benefits Division of the NHIA under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, accepted a joint media interview this afternoon and stated that the NHIA will establish a cancer new drug fund in 2025 to actively align cancer treatments with international guidelines. The NHIA will use "Health Technology Assessment" and "Health Technology Reassessment" to conduct rolling reviews of reimbursement regulations based on clinical evidence. In the future, these will be submitted to expert advisory committees and processed in accordance with the legal procedures of joint formulation meetings.
Chang said that the "mutually exclusive reimbursement" clauses were formulated based on the clinical trials and empirical results at the time. As new drugs and technologies continue to emerge, they will more actively align with international treatment guidelines. As long as pharmaceutical companies submit applications, comparisons and inventories will be conducted, and assessments of whether to include them in the reimbursement will be made based on scientific evidence. It is believed that with the support of the cancer new drug fund, the alignment with international guidelines can be accelerated more effectively. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150419
Choosing to stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The texts, images, and audio/video of this website cannot be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
(CNA Reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 19th) Acute leukemia deteriorates rapidly. The Hematology Society of Taiwan suggested today breaking the restrictions and mutually exclusive clauses of National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursements, and expanding the types of cancers covered by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) stated that it will conduct rolling reviews of reimbursement regulations based on empirical evidence to actively align with international standards.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common acute blood cancer in adults that progresses rapidly and is highly malignant, accounting for about 32.2%. There are nearly a thousand new cases in Taiwan every year, and more than half of them are people over 65 years old. AML deteriorates rapidly, and if not treated in time, it can be fatal due to infection or bleeding within weeks to months.
The Hematology Society of Taiwan today suggested optimizing NHI reimbursements, emphasizing three major directions: early and precise medication, aligning treatments with international guidelines, and improving comprehensive care. They hope that NGS reimbursement will be included for AML, the applicable targets of targeted drugs will be continuously expanded, and the "mutually exclusive reimbursement" clauses will be broken to ensure that patients receive comprehensive care at all stages of fighting cancer.
Chang Hui-ping, a counselor at the Medical Review and Pharmaceutical Benefits Division of the NHIA under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, accepted a joint media interview this afternoon and stated that the NHIA will establish a cancer new drug fund in 2025 to actively align cancer treatments with international guidelines. The NHIA will use "Health Technology Assessment" and "Health Technology Reassessment" to conduct rolling reviews of reimbursement regulations based on clinical evidence. In the future, these will be submitted to expert advisory committees and processed in accordance with the legal procedures of joint formulation meetings.
Chang said that the "mutually exclusive reimbursement" clauses were formulated based on the clinical trials and empirical results at the time. As new drugs and technologies continue to emerge, they will more actively align with international treatment guidelines. As long as pharmaceutical companies submit applications, comparisons and inventories will be conducted, and assessments of whether to include them in the reimbursement will be made based on scientific evidence. It is believed that with the support of the cancer new drug fund, the alignment with international guidelines can be accelerated more effectively. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150419
Choosing to stand with facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The texts, images, and audio/video of this website cannot be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.