Health care is one of the basic necessities that a government should provide to its citizens. In some countries, it is amazing how they are able to maintain health care systems that are indeed catered towards the well-being of its citizens. Although some may be a bit costly, most of these health care systems truly regard their people’s health as their main priority.

For instance, the Taiwanese government pays for all its citizens’ health care needs. They were able to cover the needs of the population yet have managed to decrease health care costs. Much credit is given to the rise in the use of smart cards.

These smart cards already contain the patient’s medical history from birth, making it easy for doctors to diagnose any health issue. This also significantly cuts down time on paperwork, which could be a probable cause of additional costs from medical providers. This system is employment-based; therefore, the elderly and those who can’t afford the system are given subsidies.

With strong belief in the well being of its citizenry, the governments of Taiwan have over time invested in training health care personnel and intensified research in various fields of Medicare and medicine to be able to adequately take care of the 23 million population. The government of Taiwan has in addition shared its knowledge with willing friendly countries around the world as a responsible nation.

Taiwan’s economic miracle is well-known around the world. One of the reasons for its success is a sound public health infrastructure, which has paved the way for this economic breakthrough. Since development of health care in Taiwan has yielded a range of specializations, including public policy formulation, public health advocacy, the development of community healthcare systems, and the monitoring and management of epidemics, all of which have borne successful experiences that can serve as a reference to partner countries, Taiwan is therefore well placed to assist the developing countries and the global community at large.

It will be interesting for citizens of Nigeria or indeed any country to walk up to a multifunction kiosk, find their own medical records, make appointments with doctors and learn there about lab tests and prescription drugs. It will be interesting to see Nigerian Doctors reach their patients’ complete medical records across different health care facilities and systems.

While not romanticizing Taiwan’s health care, one is persuaded that Taiwan’s national health system, going by the level of health care it delivers, and by what it offers its citizens for the money they spend on it – by its cost-effectiveness, is worthy of emulation by developing countries.

In terms of improvement, the system remains work in progress, thus it is a win-win symbiotic relationship for partner countries to further grow their health system.

In the August/September 2015 edition of SPOTLIGHT, we explore some of the policies and innovations that have led to the ranking of medical care in Taiwan among the very best in the world.