As Taiwan enters a super-aged reality, the country’s healthcare system is increasingly defined by the long-term management of chronic disease. Conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, vision, and cancer pathways are becoming more prevalent, placing sustained pressure not only on patients but also on caregivers, clinicians, and the broader healthcare infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, recent developments in treatment approaches are beginning to shift how care is delivered — moving from episodic intervention toward earlier, more continuous management designed to preserve quality of life over time.

Attention is turning toward addressing interconnected disease pathways in step with Taiwan’s evolving healthcare priorities.

“More than 875 million people globally are affected by chronic kidney disease and/or heart failure, with the likelihood of developing both conditions escalating due to global lifestyle trends, an aging population, and the rising incidence of diabetes,” says Ingo Brandenburg, managing director of Bayer Taiwan.

In Taiwan, where dialysis rates remain among the highest globally, slowing disease progression has become a central objective. Newer therapeutic approaches targeting underlying drivers of organ damage aim to extend the time between diagnosis and more intensive interventions, such as dialysis, while improving overall patient outcomes.

“What is happening is by selectively blocking this overreaction, this emerging treatment offers patients a better outcome and a higher quality of life, and most importantly, an extension of the time between diagnosis and the need for dialysis,” Brandenburg says.

At the same time, innovation in ophthalmology is addressing a different but equally significant burden: the frequency and intensity of treatment. Retinal conditions such as retinal vein occlusion often require repeated clinical visits and procedures, creating challenges for both patients and healthcare providers — particularly among older populations.

“New available, durable treatment options are helping to address the significant disease burden and the challenge of overly frequent treatment intervals,” says Brandenburg. “It’s a problem for the patient, the healthcare professional, and the healthcare system.”

Extended dosing intervals also have implications beyond treatment burden. When patients are not tied to frequent visits, adherence becomes easier to sustain in real-world settings, reducing the risk of under-treatment over time.

“Longer dosing intervals can fundamentally reshape the treatment experience,” Brandenburg says. “Fewer injections means fewer hospital visits and a more manageable routine.”

In oncology, improvements in access and continuity of care are emerging as equally critical factors. Recent expansions in reimbursement coverage are helping to ensure that patients can initiate and remain on treatment without interruption — a key determinant of long-term outcomes.

“The expansion of coverage is a landmark shift,” he says. “By extending the reimbursement duration, we are removing the financial cliff that many patient face midway through that treatment.”

In prostate cancer care, the significance lies not only in access but in duration. Extending reimbursement reduces the risk of mid-course interruption, making it easier for eligible patients to remain on treatment over the longer horizon their care may require.

Taiwan’s healthcare ecosystem plays a critical role in supporting this evolution. The country’s strong clinical research infrastructure and high level of physician engagement have positioned it as a key contributor to global clinical trials, allowing patients to access innovative treatment approaches earlier in the development cycle.

“The setup of clinical trials in Taiwan is one of the best in the world — companies like Bayer are using this infrastructure extensively,” Brandenburg says.

These developments also sit within a broader policy direction in Taiwan: moving healthcare investment upstream, where earlier intervention and timely treatment can help prevent more intensive and costly care later on.

“It is clear that with chronic diseases, the earlier the diagnosis, the cheaper the treatment for the healthcare system,” Brandenburg notes.

Across these disease areas, the common thread is not simply new treatment availability, but a broader effort to make care more durable, practical, and sustainable over time.

For Bayer Taiwan, these advances reflect a broader strategy of “impact by innovation.” In 2026 “we anticipate several key milestones, further validating our strategy of impact by innovation,” Brandenburg says.