英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

前衛生署長，現任慈濟大學教授葉金川，美東時間11日出席美國參議院「健保體系如何向他國借鏡」聽證會，大談台灣健保成功經驗，獲得與會者高度肯定。這也是第一位在國會山莊正式聽證會上作證的前台灣官員，替外交史寫下新頁。

[[前衛生署長 葉金川]] 
“健保病患拿他們的健保卡，可以到任何地方(醫院)就醫，享受到有品質的醫療服務”

秀出健保卡，大談台灣健保成功經驗！他也談到，用單一支付系統，讓全民納保，是台灣能有效率的實施低價推動健保的原因。

[[前衛生署長 葉金川]]
“今天在這邊聽證，我們的重點是說，作為一個單一(支付)的體制，還是有自由的競爭，那這個競爭會產生效率，這個效率可以節省很多不必要的浪費”

葉金川還在聽證會強調，台灣只用到美國1/4的錢，但結果卻更好。如今美國正面臨更嚴峻的健保財政困境，葉金川表示，希望藉由台灣19年的健保經驗，能提供其他國家借鏡。

Former Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan spoke about the merits of Taiwan’s national health insurance system to members of the US Senate. In the process he became the first former Cabinet-level official from Taiwan to testify at a US Senate hearing. 

Yeh Ching-chuan
Former Health Minister
Patients can carry their insurance card and can go to any provider if they are not satisfied with their quality of service.

After displaying a Taiwan National Health Insurance card, former Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan discussed Taiwan’s successful experience in implementing universal healthcare. Yeh explained Taiwan’s implementation of a single-payer system, which allows for the efficient and low cost delivery of universal health care coverage.

Yeh Ching-chuan
Former Health Minister
At today’s hearing, our most important point is that a single-payer system can also include freedom of choice and competition, which can create efficiency that can help cut unnecessary costs.

During the hearing, Yeh said Taiwan delivers health care at a cost that is one-quarter of that of the United States on a cost-of-living adjusted basis, while still managing to provide better health care service. And as the US healthcare system is expected to encounter a more acute financial crisis this year, Yeh said he hoped that the United States and others could learn from Taiwan’s 19 years of experience in providing national health insurance.