In the past, patients in Taiwan often had to wait up to a year for new drugs to be covered by the National Health Insurance. Now, the wait can be as short as four months. Chih-Kang Chiang, Director-General of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA), stated yesterday (4th) in a briefing to the “Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee” that Taiwan’s biomedical industry is undergoing a comprehensive transformation through five major strategies—not only accelerating the market launch of new drugs and smart medical devices, but also integrating smart healthcare into everyday life to achieve “Healthy Taiwan for All” and deliver tangible health benefits to the public.
The Presidential Office’s Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee convened its fifth meeting today, during which Chiang presented on “Promoting Innovative Development of Taiwan’s Biomedical Industry.” He noted that the international environment is shifting rapidly, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Biosecure Act, and the revival of tariff policies under the Trump administration—all of which have placed pressure on Taiwan. However, he emphasized, “Pressure can also be an opportunity, and Taiwan must move faster to build its own resilience.”
Chiang outlined the government’s five key strategies—policy support, regulatory guidance, technological leadership, market expansion, and resource investment—which have already produced concrete results. On the policy front, the Executive Yuan has incorporated the biomedical industry into the “National Hope Project,” promoting precision health and smart healthcare. The Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Promotion Advisory Committee (BTC) has also proposed 18 recommendations covering AI, semiconductors, supply chains, and talent cultivation to lay a long-term blueprint for the industry.
Accelerating the Launch of New Drugs and Smart Medical Devices
Regulatory reforms have been the most directly felt by the public. Chiang reported that the review period for new drugs has been shortened from 12 months to 8 months, and in some cases can be compressed to just 4 to 6 months. So far, 11 drug products and 51 smart medical devices have successfully entered the market. “What’s accelerating isn’t just the numbers,” he said. “It’s the speed of saving lives—patients can now access treatments much sooner.”
In terms of technology, the National Infectious Disease Resources Repository joined the World Federation for Culture Collections last year and is expected to complete its facility by 2026. It will provide specimen collection, strain preservation, and international collaboration functions. Chiang stressed that the pandemic has proven Taiwan’s crucial role in rapid testing, vaccine development, and drug innovation, and that this repository will become a vital safeguard for public health.
For market expansion, Chiang noted that the government is actively building the “Health Smart Taiwan (HST)” brand platform, which currently has 165 member companies and 251 products. Meanwhile, the “Taiwan Health Care Portal (THP+)” has attracted 844 members and generated nearly NT$3 billion in output, while also linking with the Taiwan Healthcare+ Expo to showcase Taiwan’s medical technology to the world.
On resource investment, Chiang highlighted that the National Development Fund has launched a NT$10 billion smart healthcare investment initiative. As of June this year, it has invested NT$215 million in nine companies, leveraging NT$768 million in private capital. In addition, 226 companies and 586 products have been certified under the Act for the Development of Biotech and New Pharmaceuticals Industry, and 14 R&D projects received government funding last year. Chiang emphasized that the government is comprehensively supporting industry upgrading—from policy frameworks to financial resources.
Resource: 救命速度再加快！五大策略助攻「健康台灣」
