Premier Cho Jung-tai speaks at the 2025 Healthy Aging Forum Feb. 11 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of EY)

Premier Cho Jung-tai said that as Taiwan becomes a super-aged society, the government must focus on building infrastructure and advancing social welfare to facilitate domestic long-term development.

Cho made the remarks at the opening of the 2025 Healthy Aging Forum Feb. 11 in Taipei City. According to the Executive Yuan, discussions at the symposium centered around the prevention of chronic diseases and implementation of holistic care.

The premier thanked AmCham Taiwan for hosting the event in cooperation with the American Institute in Taiwan, and expressed appreciation for AmCham’s dedication to sharing invaluable knowledge in a variety of fields.

Cho noted that the average life expectancy in Taiwan is 79 years, adding that the country can now be classed as a super-aged society, defined as 20 percent of the populace older than 65. Addressing the situation requires public-private cooperation as well as continued international exchange, the premier said, remarking that the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee founded by the Presidential Office has set lofty goals to improve health.

One of the committee’s main objectives is to extend average life expectancy from 79 to 82 while improving quality of life for older individuals. Supported by the EY, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has launched strategies such as a project to prevent high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; outreach to actively promote cancer screening, genetic testing and precision medicine; and the establishment of a fund for new cancer drugs that aims to reduce the cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030.

NT$48.6 billion (US$1.48 billion) has been allocated this year for health projects including assistance for national health care, HTPC measures and cancer prevention, Cho said. (POC-E)