Taipei: Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is set to broaden the eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals starting in 2026.

According to Focus Taiwan, CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun announced at a press event on December 22 that the subsidy regulations are being revised, and the eligibility for publicly funded treatment for foreign residents will be expanded. Lo revealed that the expansion would initially prioritize foreign nationals holding permanent residency and those under 18, although further details were not disclosed.

The CDC has yet to determine the number of additional foreign nationals who will qualify for publicly funded treatment, as it is still assessing the potential impact of this expansion. Currently, under the existing support program, the CDC covers the costs for an HIV patient's first two years on medication, after which expenses are managed by the national health insurance (NHI) system.

As per the latest figures available, as of late November, 36,494 Taiwanese nationals and 615 foreign nationals in Taiwan were living with HIV. Among the foreign nationals, 343 were already covered under the national health insurance system, while others, having been on medication for less than two years, were not yet eligible for NHI coverage. Nonetheless, some of these individuals have received financial assistance through alternative means.

The current treatment for patients involves highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), or "cocktail therapy," which combines at least two to three antiretroviral drugs. The monthly medication costs are capped at under NT$13,200 (US$420).

At the December 22 press conference, Lo also announced an increase in the enrollment quota for the publicly funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program for the following year, raising it to 9,500 people from 8,000 in 2025. The PrEP program, aimed at preventing HIV incidence, is available to Taiwanese nationals and foreign spouses of Taiwanese who meet the criteria and are assessed by physicians.

Lo projected that Taiwan would record about 850 new HIV cases in 2025, marking the lowest level since 2003 and representing a decrease of approximately 11 to 12 percent from 2024 figures, attributing this decline partly to the effectiveness of the PrEP program.