Major Leap in Cancer Drug Review! FHIR Reduces Wait Time to One Day for Patients

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The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) held a 'Digital Governance Seminar on Cancer Treatment' to showcase innovative practices in healthcare. Director Chen Liang-yu explained that pre-approval screening for cancer drugs, which previously required 1–2 weeks due to varying NHIA coverage conditions, has been drastically reduced to just one day by the adoption of FHIR format at 69 participating hospitals. This significantly improves patient access to necessary medications. This initiative is part of Taiwan's effort toward achieving 'Healthy Taiwan,' utilizing digital governance, FHIR standard data collection, and AI technology. The NHIA has progressively adopted FHIR for cancer drug reviews, following the introduction of IC cards in 2004 and cloud medication history in 2013, aligning with international standards. The goal is to create a patient-centric 'Cancer Digital Governance' database that manages the entire care continuum—from screening to treatment and follow-up. Furthermore, the NHIA promotes the immediate upload of medical images (CT, MRI, X-ray) and reports across institutions. This digital governance streamlines administrative processes, allowing patients to access records regardless of changes in facility or physician, thereby reducing redundant checks and patient burden. These efforts are crucial for Taiwan's cancer prevention strategy, aiming to establish a national 'Cancer Digital Governance' system that meets international standards.