More pricy treatments available as medical tech improves｜Taiwan News

Taiwan’s national health insurance system is turning 30 next year, and the number of out-of-pocket supplements available is only growing. Some of these extra costs can reach into the hundreds of thousands of NT. That’s especially so in the area of orthopedics, which is seen as a lucrative business for medical centers. To avoid unnecessary expenses, experts urge patients to discuss all the options thoroughly with their doctors before committing to a pricy treatment.

The number of medical treatments and surgical procedures available to patients is growing, that is, as long as the patient pays out of pocket. Amid Taiwan’s aging population, orthopedics has become a lucrative discipline at many hospitals.

Tai Nien-kuo
Orthopedic doctor
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that orthopedics is a gold mine, but it definitely accounts for a sizeable portion. Would you say no to more good options being available? I don’t think so. So we embrace new possibilities, which provide the general public with better medical treatments. It makes sense.

A titanium alloy plate for a bone fracture can cost NT$70,000. Ceramics for artificial joints go for NT$100,000, and minimally invasive spinal screws can range from NT$100,000 to NT$200,000. The market is so large and the options so abundant, that medical experts say the trend will be difficult to reverse.

Hung Tzu-jen
Taiwan College of Healthcare Executive
Over the past decade, drugs and technologies have advanced very rapidly. For example, in the past 10 years, we’ve seen the development of the da Vinci Surgical System, which is not covered by health insurance. There has to be a shared decision making process between doctor and patient, with abundant communication, to decide on which treatment is most suitable. The patient must offer informed consent. They have the right to choose when signing the medical consent forms.

Many self-paid procedures are available in orthopedics, dentistry, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and cardiac surgery. Experts urge patients to make sure they have enough money to spend before hospitalizations or surgeries, as costs can easily pile up. When in doubt, communicate with your doctor to avoid an expensive misunderstanding.

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