To fight cancer, Taiwan Cancer Control Act was promulgated in 2003. In accordance with the law, the government periodically convenes the Central Committee Meeting and the Policy Commission for cancer control, facilitating the coordination and communication between horizontal and vertical officials. Echoing the Act, three phases (2005-09, 2010-13, 2014-18) of National Cancer Control Programs have been implemented. The fourth phase of the national cancer prevention program (2019-23) has formulated 6 strategies to address the trend of austerity measures in international health expenditures and emphasize what data analysis and evidence can do for cancer prevention.
● Cancer has been the No. 1 leading cause of death in Taiwan since 1982, accounting for 29% of total death in 2020.
● The age-standardized cancer incidence was 309.8/105 in 2018; and the age-standardized cancer mortality was 117.3/105 in 2020.
● The 5-year relative survival rate of all cancers increased from 48.3% during 2003-2007 to 59.7% during 2014-2018.
§ Prevention §
Notes: 1. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey, Adult Smoking Behavior Survey (ASBS).
2. Betal Quid Chewing Rate: Refer to those who have chewed within the past 6 months.
● Encourage physical activities and healthy diet
● Impose tobacco tax and surcharge
● Control areca/betel quid chewing. The chewing rate has decreased from 17.2% to 6.2% by the efforts in the past decade.
● Established the national database for cancer registries and cancer screening
● HBV mass vaccination program for infants since 1984. The incidence of acute Hepatitis B has a remarkable drop.
● Four cancer screenings recommended by WHO are included in the National Cancer Screening Pro-gram.Besides, the lung cancer screening program was launched since July first, 2022.
§ Treatment §
● National Health Insurance pays for most of the cancer treatment.
● Accreditation of cancer care quality
● P4P (pay-for-performance) Program
● Oncology Nurse Navigator Program
● Cancer diagnosis disclosure in hospitals since 2014
§ Hospice and Palliative Care §
● Ranked 6/80 in the world and first in Asia in Quality of Death Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2015
● 64.1% of palliative care utilization in the last year of life among cancer patients in 2020
● Promulgated Hospice Palliative Care Act in 2000
● Enacted Patient Right to Autonomy Act in 2016 for promoting Advance Care Planning (ACP)
●Launched Patient Self-Determination Act (PDSA) in 2019
Taiwan quality of death report, 2015
This Propaganda is funded by
Tobacco Health and Welfare Surcharge
