To align itself with the World Health Organization’s End TB 2035 targets and to protect families and society from the potential financial burden of tuberculosis, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control continues to support various TB prevention and control efforts, working toward the goal of ending TB. For TB treatment, while the National Health Insurance system covers certain medical costs according to its reimbursement regulations, the TCDC also allocates government funding to cover essential expenses not included in the NHI. These include co-payments for TB patients, their contacts, and individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI); medical costs for people not enrolled in the NHI; second-line anti-TB drugs and medications imported under special authorization; screening services; and implementation of short-course directly observed treatment programs.

As a result, TB prevention and control in Taiwan—including BCG vaccination, screening, treatment of latent infections, contact investigation, diagnosis, treatment, case management, and drug injury compensation—is fully funded by the government, with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. Additionally, support is provided through partnerships with social welfare agencies and nongovernmental organizations, such as offering nutrition, medical care, and transportation subsidies as well as emergency aid to economically disadvantaged them to help them complete treatment without disruption or concern.

To ensure accessible, high-quality medical care for HIV patients, Taiwan has designated a large number of hospitals and pharmacies as treatment centers. Moreover, Taiwan has implemented the Project for Designated Medical Institutions to enable HIV patients to focus on self-care and adherence to their treatment regimens. The government promotes internationally recommended treatment as first-line therapy: daily intake of a combination drug for patients’ ease and convenience. All health care expenses for HIV patients are covered under the National Health Insurance or other government funds.

In line with the UNAIDS three zeros strategy (zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination) and 95-95-95 treatment targets (95 percent of those living with HIV will know their status, 95 percent of those who know their status will receive treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment will be virally suppressed by 2030), Taiwan regularly launches public awareness initiatives about the disease to end stigmat and help patients feel respected and accepted. At the same time, Taiwan strives to create a friendly screening and treatment environment while pursing UNAIDS goals and targets.

On Dec. 4, 1965, the eradication of malaria in Taiwan was certified by the WHO. To safeguard this status, Taiwan CDC continues to implement measures including border quarantine and tracking; surveillance and screening; and maintaining malaria laboratory diagnosis capabilities. It also imports antimalarial drugs for self-paid prescriptions at travel clinics. Taiwan CDC urges those planning to visit high-risk regions to schedule an appointment with such clinics and take medication as instructed.

An International Health Regulations national focal point was launched as the designated liaison with WHO headquarters after Taiwan was incorporated into the 2005-established IHR operation mechanism in 2009. This liaison office is charged with reporting major public health events to the WHO in compliance with IHR, receiving such information from other countries through the IHR Event Information Site and facilitating cross-border communication and referral for cases of major infectious diseases.

Taking the COVID-19 outbreak as an example: On December 31, 2019, Taiwan promptly reported through the IHR to the WHO Headquarters about the cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause in Wuhan, China. In addition to providing the WHO with information from our own media monitoring and sources, we also hoped to obtain critical information through international channels such as the WHO. This rapid response was mentioned in the report submitted by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPR) to the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2021: Taiwan's rapid reporting and information sharing was considered one of three channels through which the WHO obtained information about the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, which demonstrates that Taiwan's sharing of information on major public health events through the IHR has been recognized. At present, Taiwan has established and maintained IHR core capacity at eight designated airports and ports. To continue promoting local capability, the Taiwan government will conduct an annual self-evaluation as well as an external evaluation every five years to ensure the portals’ sustainable development and ability to respond to emergent public health threats.

Taiwan has continued to exchange important public health and disease information with the WHO and other countries through the IHR channel. Taiwan has also actively strived for participation in meetings held by the WHO to stay up to date with the latest global information on infectious disease outbreaks, public health emergency response, vaccine development, technological advancements, evidence-based medicine and other information. Taiwan has also developed closer interactions with IHR contact points in various countries and demonstrated its infectious disease prevention and public health work to the international community.