Need for health policy in Taiwan: can lessons be learned from the U.S. experience?

In Taiwan, aspiration for a life of high quality is a legitimate objective actively pursued by both the individual and the Government. Since good health is essential to achieve high quality of life, research to facilitate the formulation of health policy is essential to help achieve the objective. Various social and health problems of contemporary society in Taiwan are, to a large extent, our own makings. They are both the causes as well as the consequences of socio-economic development. To undertake policy research in Taiwan, we have the advantages of the experience of the West, more knowledge and technique for policy analysis, and our cultural heritage of stronger familial relationship. We can always learned from the strength as well as the failure of others. Although the policy formulation process in the U.S. has several strength, there are also weaknesses. In spite of the abundance of both resources and technology at her disposal, U.S. has not been able to develop health policies which will assure equity of services to all of her population. The U.S. is not "the healthiest country on earth," and the racial differentials in health status are still substantial. There are large "pockets" of disadvantaged population who do not have any health insurance and therefore, are inaccessble to health care. Six subjects are listed for health policy research of higher priority for Taiwan. These are: 1. Establishment of epidemiologic surveillance system and systems for collection of health information and statistics 2. Setting National Health Objectives for Year 2000 3. The balance between preventive and curative medicine 4. Medical care for the aging population 5. Health and safety of workplaces 6. Medical care cost and universal health insurance program It is the responsibility of academic institutions to help the Government in undertaking these and other policy research to facilitate informed policy decision-making.