Taiwan's Electronic Medical Records Plan Expected To Yield Huge Savings

The China Post reported that an electronic medical records plan to be launched nationwide in Taiwan is expected to save the country NT$50 billion annually in medical budgeting, boost medical records' security and protect patients' privacy.

According to The China Post, Hsu Min-huei, Taiwan's Department of Health's Director of Medical Informatics, said the new program will significantly reduce paperwork and unnecessary medical expenditures. Citing the United States' experience, Hsu said the introduction of full-scale e-medical records is expected to save 10 percent in annual medical-related expenditures, which amounts to around NT$50 billion in Taiwan.

Additionally, Hsu told The China Post that the scheme will boost medical records security because the closed network allows only certified medical personnel from medical institutions to access the system and only with the patient's consent.

Launched in 126 hospitals so far, the plan will ultimately be implemented in all 500 hospitals across Taiwan by the end of 2012.

Source: The China Post