Cancer Drug Pre-approval Digitalized, Reducing Wait Time from Weeks to One Day

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The NHIA is advancing 'Cancer Digital Governance' to improve efficiency and patient care in Taiwan’s healthcare system. Previously, anti-cancer drug pre-approval was conducted using cumbersome paper processes, often resulting in wait times of 7 to 14 days for patients. The NHIA plans to transition this process entirely to a digital format starting this year. The impetus for this change is the rising incidence of cancer in Taiwan. According to reports from the National Health Agency, the number of newly diagnosed cancer cases shows an increasing trend. To achieve digitalization, the NHIA is adopting FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), which is recognized as a global standard for healthcare data exchange. Director Chen Liang-yu stated that because many hospitals previously used outdated formats or paper processes, establishing a unified data exchange standard was challenging. By utilizing FHIR, they aim to solve this interoperability issue and align with international standards. Future plans include implementing automated and structured review mechanisms for various cancer benefit regulations. Furthermore, the NHIA will integrate AI technology to enhance clinical decision support, such as building integrated search interfaces for imaging reports, aiming for comprehensive care and treatment integration for cancer patients.