Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
China Times, Zhang Cuifen / Taipei Report, April 25, 2009
The Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) released the latest statistics on the 24th, showing that in 2008, the average number of outpatient visits per person in Taiwan reached 15 times, setting a record for the past decade. Taiwanese people made over 345 million outpatient visits last year alone! Due to an aging population and the chronic nature of diseases, patients' survival periods have lengthened. The NHI Bureau predicts that the number of medical visits will inevitably continue to rise.
The National Health Insurance Supervisory Committee of the Department of Health presented a special report on NHI medical expenditures yesterday. Data from the NHI Bureau revealed that the average annual number of medical visits per person has been increasing year by year: 14.7 times in 2006, 14.9 times in 2007, and 15 times in 2008. Among these, Western medicine visits remained stable at 12.1 times, while traditional Chinese medicine visits increased to 1.6 times and dental visits to 1.3 times, showing significant growth.
Most visits are for minor illnesses, with colds alone costing NT$29 billion.
NHI Deputy General Manager Li Chenghua pointed out that with an average of 15 medical visits per person annually, the data on visit frequency and outpatient volume indicate that people have not "become too poor to afford medical care" due to the economic downturn. NHI records show that in its first year of operation, the average number of visits per person was 14.4 times, peaking at 15.4 times in 1999. However, after the NHI strengthened its management controls, the number dropped to 14.8 times the following year and has since remained below 15 times in recent years. This marks the first time in recent years that the figure has rebounded to 15 times.
Do Taiwanese people prefer visiting hospitals frequently? Li Chenghua noted that the average annual number of medical visits in Japan is 16 to 17 times, which is not significantly higher than Taiwan's. However, compared to Western countries, where the average is 4 to 7 visits, Taiwan's numbers are indeed slightly higher. This difference stems from variations in healthcare systems—people in Western countries often go directly to pharmacies for minor illnesses like colds, while Taiwanese tend to visit hospitals even for minor ailments. Excessive visits for minor illnesses, such as colds, cost the NHI NT$29 billion annually.
An aging population will lead to continued growth in average outpatient visits.
Li Chenghua explained that in the past, terminally ill cancer patients, psychiatric patients, and drug abusers were prone to "hospital-hopping," with some individuals making over 400 medical visits in a year. The NHI has implemented measures to monitor high-frequency visitors (those exceeding 20 visits per month or 150 visits per year), placing them on a guidance list. Currently, there are about 2,000 to 3,000 such individuals, and typically, their visit frequency drops below 50 times the following year after being monitored.
Due to the aging population and the chronic nature of diseases, patients' survival periods have lengthened. The NHI Bureau anticipates that the average number of medical visits is likely to increase further.
Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the NHI Watch Alliance, pointed out that many patients visit outpatient clinics merely for blood tests or to review lab reports, which wastes both time and money. For those who exceed 15 outpatient visits annually...
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,63& id=5863
Medical Enthusiasts? Chinese Average 15 Doctor Visits Annually
The Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) released the latest statistics on the 24th, showing that in 2008, the average number of outpatient visits per person in Taiwan reached 15 times, setting a record for the past decade. Taiwanese people made over 345 million outpatient visits last year alone! Due to an aging population and the chronic nature of diseases, patients' survival periods have lengthened. The NHI Bureau predicts that the number of medical visits will inevitably continue to rise.
The National Health Insurance Supervisory Committee of the Department of Health presented a special report on NHI medical expenditures yesterday. Data from the NHI Bureau revealed that the average annual number of medical visits per person has been increasing year by year: 14.7 times in 2006, 14.9 times in 2007, and 15 times in 2008. Among these, Western medicine visits remained stable at 12.1 times, while traditional Chinese medicine visits increased to 1.6 times and dental visits to 1.3 times, showing significant growth.
Most visits are for minor illnesses, with colds alone costing NT$29 billion.
NHI Deputy General Manager Li Chenghua pointed out that with an average of 15 medical visits per person annually, the data on visit frequency and outpatient volume indicate that people have not "become too poor to afford medical care" due to the economic downturn. NHI records show that in its first year of operation, the average number of visits per person was 14.4 times, peaking at 15.4 times in 1999. However, after the NHI strengthened its management controls, the number dropped to 14.8 times the following year and has since remained below 15 times in recent years. This marks the first time in recent years that the figure has rebounded to 15 times.
Do Taiwanese people prefer visiting hospitals frequently? Li Chenghua noted that the average annual number of medical visits in Japan is 16 to 17 times, which is not significantly higher than Taiwan's. However, compared to Western countries, where the average is 4 to 7 visits, Taiwan's numbers are indeed slightly higher. This difference stems from variations in healthcare systems—people in Western countries often go directly to pharmacies for minor illnesses like colds, while Taiwanese tend to visit hospitals even for minor ailments. Excessive visits for minor illnesses, such as colds, cost the NHI NT$29 billion annually.
An aging population will lead to continued growth in average outpatient visits.
Li Chenghua explained that in the past, terminally ill cancer patients, psychiatric patients, and drug abusers were prone to "hospital-hopping," with some individuals making over 400 medical visits in a year. The NHI has implemented measures to monitor high-frequency visitors (those exceeding 20 visits per month or 150 visits per year), placing them on a guidance list. Currently, there are about 2,000 to 3,000 such individuals, and typically, their visit frequency drops below 50 times the following year after being monitored.
Due to the aging population and the chronic nature of diseases, patients' survival periods have lengthened. The NHI Bureau anticipates that the average number of medical visits is likely to increase further.
Teng Xihua, spokesperson for the NHI Watch Alliance, pointed out that many patients visit outpatient clinics merely for blood tests or to review lab reports, which wastes both time and money. For those who exceed 15 outpatient visits annually...
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,63& id=5863