42 PERSPECTIVES ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS | VOL 43 | 2025 Addressing the workforce shortage Focusing on Taiwan’s health-care workforce is also critical to maintaining healthy aging. The aging population accelerates the demand for services and at the same time the working-age population is shrinking. To alleviate the demand, Taiwan can create incentives to attract foreign workers. Streamlining visa processes and offering relocation packages with subsidized housing, transportation, and language training would attract international nursing and medical graduates. Taiwan could also establish partnerships with countries that have a surplus of health-care graduates. For example, Germany recruits nurses from the Philippines, allowing them to work when undergoing training to meet local standards (German Embassy Manilla, 2022). Taiwan can adopt a similar model by targeting countries with strong health-care education and an excess of employees. Taiwan also must improve working conditions for existing staff to extend nurse and physician retention through raising salaries, manageable shifts, and mental health support. Expanding education programs and subsidizing tuition for students who commit to working in underserved areas and geriatric care would certify that there are sufficient trained staff for the aging population. Improving preventative care and precision medicine Preventative care strategies can alleviate the strain on the system by fending off chronic diseases before they develop. Chronic diseases, which disproportionately affect older adults, are significant drivers of costs. Community-based programs that promote healthy lifestyles through exercise, balanced diets, and regular health screenings can prevent age-related conditions. Building on the Healthy Taiwan campaign and long-term care model, the government could further emphasize preventative care, encouraging citizens to take proactive steps toward better health and healthy aging. Japan’s community-based integrated care model is a strong example of these benefits, with its emphasis on preventative and rehabilitative care for older adults through local health resources and the involvement of family and community members (Hatano et al., 2017). This approach has been effective in slowing the rise of medical costs, reducing the number of bedridden individuals, and increasing participation in health checkups. If Taiwan were to adopt similar practices within its long-term care infrastructure and Healthy Taiwan plan, it likely would decrease reliance on the NHI and lower chronic disease rates. Taiwan should also explore enhancing its mobile health care to improve access for underserved populations, particularly the elderly and rural communities. Geographic barriers, provider shortages, and limited mobility often prevent many people from receiving timely care as they age. In recent years, Taiwan has introduced mobile health buses rendering routine health checks for elderly residents in remote areas like Tainan (NHI Administration, 2021). These preventative care programs would improve access to essential screenings, improve chronic disease management, and reduce hospitalizations. Integrating telemedicine into mobile health units could also assist in connecting patients with services in urban health centers. With greater investment and collaboration across public health agencies and providers, Taiwan can strengthen its commitment to equitable health care and reduce disparities in aging by offering mobile care to a greater number of people. Incorporating advancements in medical technology and precision medicine would enhance efficiency and efficacy. Early diagnosis tools, personalized treatments, and telemedicine solutions are ways to improve care delivery, optimizing resource use (see the article by Nambiar in this volume). Precision medicine may also lessen pressures that contribute to employee burnout. By integrating these innovations, Taiwan can have better outcomes for its aging population and reduce the burden on health-care workers. Conclusion Taiwan’s aging population presents an urgent threat to the sustainability of its health-care system, driving up demand for services and long-term care as well as straining the workforce and NHI budget. Although the system has shown resilience through past reforms and public health successes, it is not fully equipped to manage the scale and speed of demographic change. Policies like Healthy Taiwan and efforts to expand the healthcare workforce are positive advancements, but they require long-term investment and strategic reform to remain effective. Taiwan must increase the NHI budget, explore tiered care models, expand the workforce, and strengthen preventative care. Without prompt and decisive action, the system risks being overwhelmed, with consequences for health equity, care quality, and financial stability. Taiwan has a strong foundation to lead in healthy aging but must meet this challenge with urgency and commitment.
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