President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) spoke at the opening of Taichung Veterans General Hospital’s (TCVGH) Proton Therapy Center on Saturday, August 15, saying that it will enhance precision medicine in central Taiwan and provide more equal access to healthcare. He stated that the facility will also lay the foundation for next-generation FLASH radiotherapy, improving Taiwan's international competitiveness in healthcare.

Cancer has remained the leading cause of death in Taiwan for 44 consecutive years, leading to demands for more treatment options. The TCVGH began construction of its proton therapy center in 2022, which was completed earlier this year and features the world's newest FLASH proton radiation therapy equipment. With improved precision and a treatment time of less than six seconds, the facility can provide patients in central Taiwan with faster, higher-quality medical care.

The president said in his speech that advanced equipment requires highly skilled medical personnel to be effective. Therefore, the government’s Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan – launched to promote systemic medical reform, optimize working environments for healthcare workers, cultivate diverse talent, and introduce smart and sustainable practices – continues to support frontline medical personnel.

Furthermore, the president pointed out that since taking office, he has actively promoted his Healthy Taiwan initiative, aiming to increase life expectancy and focusing on cancer as the leading cause of death. He said that plans aim to expand cancer screening, precision medicine, and establish a NT$10 billion (over US$314 million) cancer drug budget.

Lai stated that in 2025, NT$6.8 billion (nearly US$214 million) was invested in more than 5.36 million screenings that found 71,000 patients with abnormalities – of which 59,000 were precancerous and 12,000 cancerous. He underscored that through early detection and early treatment, the goal is to reduce the cancer mortality rate by one-third by 2030.