Taiwan's health-care system and administration are independent of China

Abstract

Zhou and colleagues1Zhou M Wang H Zeng X et al.Mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.Lancet. 2019; (published online June 24)https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30427-1Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1594) Google Scholar show that China and its provinces have made some efforts in reducing the burden of many diseases. We regret to see that Taiwan and its health-care system are not considered independent from China. Taiwan launched its national health-care system in 1995. This insurance-based system is administered by its own government and characterised by good accessibility, comprehensive population coverage (99% of the 23·74 million residents in Taiwan2Cheng T-M Taiwan's national health insurance system: high value for the dollar.in: Okma KGH Crivelli L Six countries, six reform models: the healthcare reform experience of Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan. World Scientific, Singapore2009: 171-204Crossref Scopus (199) Google Scholar), short waiting times, relatively low costs and a national health insurance databank for planning, monitoring, and providing health-care services.3Wu T-Y Majeed A Kuo KN An overview of the healthcare system in Taiwan.London J Prim Care (Abingdon). 2010; 3: 115-119Crossref PubMed Scopus (267) Google Scholar Moreover, it is of high efficiency and was ranked ninth in last year's Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index, which included 56 global economies. Although we appreciate that Maigeng Zhou and colleagues1Zhou M Wang H Zeng X et al.Mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.Lancet. 2019; (published online June 24)https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30427-1Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1594) Google Scholar engaged in improving health conditions in China and its provinces, we would like to point out that Taiwan's health-care system is independent from China. Furthermore, Taiwan and its health-care practitioners are also making an effort to make the world a better place to live. We declare no competing interests. Mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017China has made substantial progress in reducing the burden of many diseases and disabilities. Strategies targeting chronic diseases, particularly in the elderly, should be prioritised in the expanding Chinese health-care system. Full-Text PDF Open AccessTaiwan's health-care system and administration are independent of ChinaI am writing on behalf of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK to express a grave concern over the incorrect designation of Taiwan as a province of China in the Article about mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces.1 Full-Text PDF Taiwan's health-care system and administration are independent of ChinaAs the Taiwan Minister of Health and Welfare, I am writing to make a formal protest against the erroneous designation of Taiwan as a province of China in the systematic analysis of mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces, 1990–2017 for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.1 Full-Text PDF Taiwan's health-care system and administration are independent of ChinaZhou and colleagues1 compare mortality, morbidity, and risk factors in China and its provinces, between 1990 and 2017. Data from the Global Health Data Exchange clearly showed Taiwan and China are two distinguished countries. Including Taiwan in the analyses makes this Article misleading, biased, and flawed. Full-Text PDF Taiwan's health-care system and administration are independent of China – Authors' replyWe investigated the levels and trends of disease burden at the province level in China between 1990 and 2017.1 This Article is the result of not only the collaboration with researchers in China but also the collaboration of more than 3400 collaborators within the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) network. The estimation of provincial level burden of disease in China is an integral part of the entire GBD enterprise that provides comprehensive and comparative assessment of the state of population health for all nations and subnational units for selected nations. Full-Text PDF