Minister Shih Chung-liang on Whirlwind Tour of UK and France for Home Healthcare Models, Eyes Upgrading Long-Term Care 3.0

(CNA, Taipei, May 19, by reporters Shen Pei-yao and Chen Chieh-ling) Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, leading a delegation to Europe for World Health Assembly activities, has become a master of time management to maximize cost-performance value. He made whirlwind stops in the UK and France to "bring back goods"—specifically, the French model of home care and the British model of community-based aging—to upgrade Taiwan's Long-Term Care 3.0. Shih, who is leading the WHO Action Team in Geneva, Switzerland, shared with Taiwanese media via video link tonight that to make the most of his airfare, he channeled his "frugal nature." Before the World Health Assembly (WHA) itinerary, he used layover time for quick, one-day professional exchanges in the UK and France, joking that it offered "higher CP value." In the UK, Shih and his team visited a "Care Home" tucked away in an old residential area. Unlike the large nursing homes common in Taiwan, the British model emphasizes "aging in place," converting old houses into community hubs that are both safe and warm. Shih pointed out that Europe experienced aging earlier, and Taiwan will also face a future with many elderly people living alone without family. He noted that the British model, which does not pursue high-spec new construction and allows seniors to live independently in familiar neighborhoods, is an important reference for the future of Long-Term Care 3.0. Additionally, Shih visited the startup biotech park built by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ) in Cambridge. He said the park integrates the R&D momentum of over 2,000 scientists and three hospitals, with the UK government even opening a new subway station with a direct line to London, showcasing its strong biotech capabilities. The two sides held in-depth discussions on clinical trial integration and accelerating new drug development, hoping to bring this R&D efficiency back to Taiwan. The itinerary in France was even more "Amazing!" according to Shih. The world's largest home care center, located on the outskirts of Paris, serves more than 2,000 hospital-at-home patients a day through a fully automated pharmacy, precision logistics, and integrated medical systems. "You can imagine, this is equivalent to moving the entire inpatient capacity of a whole Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital into patients' homes," Shih marveled. He noted that this system allows everyone, from sick children to palliative care seniors, to receive professional treatment at home, which aligns perfectly with Taiwan's promotion of "home-based care." Shih stressed that Taiwan has been promoting home-based care for two years, and France's success proves this path is absolutely viable. After returning to Taiwan, he will accelerate adjustments to the National Health Insurance payment system and even plans to organize a delegation of hospital directors to visit France for an "eye-opening experience," aiming to evolve Taiwan's home healthcare into a stronger support system. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150519