Taiwan’s population is rapidly aging, challenging its vaunted healthcare system to continue supplying quality, affordable healthcare to all citizens.

The News Lens
Date: 2017/03/13
By: Tim Ferry

In just 24 years, between 1993 and the end of 2017, Taiwan will have gone from an

Photo Credit: Mr Hicks46CC by sa 2.0

“aging population” with some 7% of the population 65 years old or older to an “aged society” with 14% of its population elderly. This same demographic shift took 125 years in France, over 40 years in the United States, and even 25 years in the world’s grayest society, Japan. Further, by 2025, one in five Taiwanese will be 65 years old or older, putting Taiwan in the ranks of the super-aged societies.

“Because we are aging too fast, the systems for geriatric care are still not very good at managing chronic conditions and providing care, and we have limited ability to manage complex conditions,” says Chen Liang-kung, a physician and director of the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. “We have a huge challenge in terms of healthcare.”    [FULL  STORY]