President Lai Ching-te stated yesterday (17th) at the "Taiwan Climate and Health Alliance – Deans’ Sustainability Forum" that the government plans to invest NT$900 billion by 2030 in net-zero transformation. He also emphasized accelerating the development of sovereign AI, with healthcare identified as a priority sector, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan’s medical industry.
The forum, organized by the Taiwan Climate and Health Alliance at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, was attended by President Lai and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-Yuan. The event outlined a blueprint for sustainable development of Taiwan’s healthcare system.
In his remarks, the President noted that after taking office, he established the National Climate Change Response Committee, the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, and the National Resilience Committee at the Presidential Office. Since climate and health are closely linked to societal resilience, the Taiwan Climate and Health Alliance effectively connects these three committees, signaling the government’s commitment to protecting both public and planetary health.
President Lai stressed that climate change is a challenge that this and the next generation must face together. Extreme weather events driven by climate change impact the spread of infectious diseases, food security, and overall human health and survival. To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Climate Change Response Committee has set national carbon reduction targets of 28±2% by 2030 and 38±2% by 2035, with six major government departments proposing action plans. The government expects to invest NT$900 billion by 2030, aiming to stimulate NT$4 trillion in private investment to ensure safer energy transformation, more competitive industrial transformation, and more sustainable lifestyles, thereby strengthening Taiwan’s societal resilience.
To support these goals, the President emphasized the government’s role in assisting healthcare system transformation. Last year, the Ministry of Health and Welfare guided 40 hospitals in carbon audits and energy-saving initiatives. He encouraged medical institutions to follow the example of Chang Gung Medical System, enabling medical centers, regional hospitals, local hospitals, and even clinics to gradually adopt energy-saving and carbon-reduction practices.
President Lai also hopes that the medical, biotech, and technology sectors can collaborate, believing that Taiwan’s biomedical industry can become an internationally recognized focus. Taiwan is accelerating the development of sovereign AI, with healthcare as a key priority sector. He stated:
"We are currently promoting the next-generation AI infrastructure as part of the New Ten AI Projects, to prepare Taiwan for the future and enhance its competitiveness. Sovereign AI, which relies on unique local data proposed by dedicated individuals, should exist in at least three sectors: first, healthcare; second, legal; third, finance."
Regarding Healthy Taiwan initiatives, the President emphasized government support for the medical community. He noted that this year’s National Health Insurance (NHI) budget has grown compared to last year, with NT$10–12 billion in non-NHI-eligible expenses removed based on medical sector recommendations, and a NT$10 billion cancer drug fund established. The cancer screening budget has increased from over NT$2 billion last year to NT$4 billion, expanding screening items and lowering the starting age, aiming for early detection and treatment. Additionally, the government is implementing a five-year "Healthy Taiwan Deep Cultivation Plan" with a total budget of nearly NT$50 billion, providing further support to improve public health and well-being.
Resource: 總統：建置主權AI 鎖定醫療為優先產業
