Doctors Call for Uninterrupted Health Insurance Coverage for 10,000 Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in Taiwan

Taipei, May 19 (CNA) – Nearly 10,000 people in Taiwan with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, who are mostly professionals aged 20 to 40, face the crisis of interrupted treatment and repeated bowel resections due to current National Health Insurance (NHI) regulations. The medical community is calling for a re-evaluation of NHI reimbursement to fight for medical equality. Today is "World IBD Day," and the Taiwan Association for Inflammatory Bowel Disease released the latest 2026 IBD patient survey results via a press release. The survey found that a high of 84.1% of patients are extremely worried about long-term complications such as intestinal stricture or cancer; 64.4% feel deep stress and depression due to the unpredictability of sudden disease flare-ups. The survey shows that 51.8% of patients often feel anxious due to the urgency of needing to use the restroom immediately, and 49% admit that the disease itself or traditional medications like steroids have caused appearance changes that have seriously affected and damaged their self-confidence. A high of 82.4% of patients fully understand the deep remission treatment goals of "internal and external dual control and mucosal healing," hoping for stable and uninterrupted medical support. "This inflammation is like a smoldering fire," pointed out Dr. Chung Cheng-Hsuan, Director of the Advanced Endoscopy Department at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. IBD is an autoimmune disease, and treatment cannot just focus on the absence of diarrhea. Even among patients with clinical symptom relief, about 40% still have mucosal inflammation or ulcers visible via endoscopy. The internationally recognized treatment goal is to pursue deep remission with dual internal and external control, which means achieving complete mucosal healing in addition to eliminating external symptoms. Dr. Chung emphasized that only by addressing both internal and external aspects can the fire within the body be truly extinguished and the disease progression be halted. However, on the path to deep remission, Taiwan's current NHI reimbursement regulations set up numerous obstacles. Patients with moderate to severe disease must undergo six months of treatment with traditional drugs, such as steroids and immunomodulators, before they can apply for advanced drugs like biologics. "This half-year is very difficult for many patients." A greater clinical concern is the crisis of treatment interruption. Dr. Chung said that patients whose condition is stable face the dilemma of discontinuing medication under the current NHI reimbursement regulations. But the current stability may just be a "temporary balance." After being forced to stop medication, 20% to 40% of patients will relapse within six months to a year. The cycle of repeated inflammation and acute flare-ups can easily lead to intestinal strictures and fistulas, ultimately leading to another surgery for bowel resection. Resuming medication after discontinuation can easily lead to the development of antibodies, causing the drug to lose all effectiveness and reducing future treatment options. Dr. Chen Kuan-Yang, President of the Taiwan Association for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, pointed out that while interrupting treatment or restricting drug switching may seem to save the NHI money on pharmaceuticals, it actually creates a larger hidden burden. Once a patient relapses, it can lead to frequent emergency room visits, long hospital stays, and even the need for extensive and expensive surgical resources. Dr. Chen advocates for "uninterrupted treatment," hoping the NHI will re-examine its reimbursement rules to fight for IBD medical equality and align treatment with international standards. He calls on the government to end the fear of medication discontinuation, noting that IBD commonly affects professionals aged 20 to 40 who are often forced into a cycle of relapse. They may need to carry extra underwear when going out, and are misunderstood as slacking off for frequent bathroom trips at work, ultimately being forced to give up their jobs. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150519