In September, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration expanded coverage to 46 da Vinci robotic-assisted surgeries, benefiting 8,400 patients annually. Patients now only pay material copayments, adding NT$285 million (US$8.75 million) to the NHI budget. This change boosts healthcare efficiency and improves patient outcomes, with fewer complications and faster recoveries, making robotic-assisted surgery a cost-effective long-term solution despite initial costs.

Faced with rising labor costs, Taiwanese companies are increasingly utilizing the latest sophisticated technologies to go beyond conventional automation to embrace Industry 4.0. A growing number of Taiwanese manufacturers are making the leap to smart factories, reflecting the worldwide trend towards industrial automation known as “Industry 4.0.” The Tsai administration has made the development of…