癌症防治法

This Act is enacted to integrate and utilize health and medical care resources for the effective promotion of cancer prevention and to protect the health of the population and to alleviate the threat of cancer.

1The term "competent authority" as used in this Act refers to:

21. the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central level;

32. the municipal government at the special municipality level; and

43. the county (city) government at the county (city) level.

1Terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

21. "Cancer": Malignant tumors confirmed by pathological

3examination, or presumptively diagnosed through other

4effective examinations or tests, that are clinically characterized by

5recurrence or metastasis.

62. "Cancer screening": The process of identifying

7individuals who may or may not have cancer through examinations,

8testing, or other diagnostic methods.

1Cancer prevention and control under this Act includes the following:

21. Promoting cancer prevention education and related preventive measures;

32. Providing cost-effective cancer screening services;

43. Delivering accurate, patient-centered medical care, appropriate treatment, and follow-up plans for cancer patients;

54. Providing palliative care for terminal cancer patients;

65. Conducting research related to cancer prevention and control;

76. Establishing cancer-related databases;

87. Providing education and training for medical personnel involved in cancer prevention and control;

98. Other matters related to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

1The State shall allocate sufficient resources and integrate efforts from both the public and private sectors to promote advanced medical technology research, support clinical trials, and advance cancer control efforts. Knowledge of cancer prevention and appropriate medical care for

2cancer patients shall be incorporated into national compulsory education. The State shall also strive to reduce public exposure to carcinogenic risk factors.

To implement cancer control policy, the Executive Yuan shall establish the Central Cancer Control Council. The Council shall have one Convener, who shall concurrently serve as the Premier of the Executive Yuan, and several members appointed or designated by the Premier from among Ministers without Portfolio, heads of relevant agencies, and experts or scholars with experience in cancer prevention and control. The Council shall convene at least once a year.

1To ensure implementation of the national cancer control policy, the central competent authority shall establish a Cancer Control Policy Committee, with the following responsibilities:

21. Formulating cancer prevention and control policies;

32. Evaluating budgets for cancer control initiatives;

43. Assessing the performance of cancer control centers;

54. Establishing quality indicators for cancer prevention and control services provided by medical institutions;

65. Reviewing medical manpower, equipment, and programs related to cancer control;

76. Reviewing clinical practice guidelines for cancer diagnosis and treatment;

87. Reviewing cancer screening programs;

98. Addressing other cancer control-related matters.

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1The Minister of Health and Welfare shall serve as the Convener of the Cancer Control Policy Committee. The Committee shall consist of 18 to 24 unpaid members, including:

21. A representative from the National Health Research Institutes;

32. A representative from the National Science and Technology Council;

43. Representatives from medical colleges and universities;

54. Experts and scholars in public health, cancer researchers, medical association representatives, and physicians specializing in pathology, oncology, and radiation oncology, as well as other related experts and specialists;

65. Individuals of social credibility and representatives from civil organizations.

7The members described in Items (3) to (5) shall be appointed by the Convener for a two-year term and may be reappointed. The members under Items (4) and (5) shall constitute no less than one-half of the total membership. No single gender shall constitute less than one-third of the total membership.

8The Committee shall convene at least once every quarter, and ad hoc meetings may be convened by the Convener when necessary, all of which shall be called by the Convener.

1The central competent authority may integrate cancer screening and treatment institutions to establish comprehensive regional cancer screening and treatment service networks. It may also, as needed, provide subsidies to establish cancer control centers and support medical institutions in implementing cancer prevention and control services. Cancer control centers shall, in accordance with the resolutions of the Cancer Control Policy Committee, carry out the following responsibilities:

21. Promoting cancer education and screening programs;

32. Diagnosing and treating cancer patients based on clinical practice guidelines;

43. Providing follow-up care plans for cancer patients;

54. Delivering integrated palliative care services for patients and their families;

65. Establishing cancer-related databases;

76. Establishing referral service networks;

87. Providing training for medical personnel involved in cancer prevention and control;

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The National Health Research Institutes shall establish a Cancer Research Center to coordinate and conduct research on cancer-related topics, including treatment methods, diagnostic technologies, pharmaceuticals, and clinical trials.

1To establish cancer-related databases, cancer control medical institutions shall submit the following data to academic research institutions commissioned by the central competent authority:

21. Data on newly diagnosed cancer cases, including staging, diagnosis, and treatment information;

32. Follow-up diagnostic and treatment data for individuals with positive cancer screening results;

43. Data on cancer cases confirmed through pathological examination, or presumptively diagnosed through other valid diagnostic

5methods;

64. Cancer-related mortality data;

75. Other data required for the promotion of cancer prevention and control.

8The regulations governing the deadlines, formats, reimbursement to reporting institutions, and other compliance matters shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

Institutions receiving data under Article 11 shall designate personnel to implement security measures in accordance with relevant laws, in order to prevent unauthorized access, alteration, damage, or loss of personal data.

The competent authority may, as needed, conduct cancer prevention and screening programs for the public. The expenses may be funded by allocations from the Tobacco Health and Welfare Surcharge or by donations from organizations or groups.

Cancer screening medical institutions shall proactively urge individuals with precancerous conditions or positive screening results to return for diagnostic confirmation or for referral to appropriate care.

Cancer control medical institutions shall establish internal cancer care quality assurance teams to ensure the quality of cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment services. The central competent authority shall formulate guidelines for these quality assurance measures in consultation with relevant experts and scholars.

The State shall allocate sufficient manpower and financial resources to ensure the effective promotion of cancer prevention and control initiatives.

1Institutions that, after being ordered by the competent authority to submit data under Article 11, Paragraph 1 within a specified deadline, fails to do so by the deadline shall be subject to a fine of not less than NT$10,000 and not more than NT$50,000. Institutions that violat Article 12 shall be subject to a fine of not less than NT$100,000 and not more than NT$500,000.

2The fines set forth in the preceding two paragraphs shall be imposed by the central competent authority.

This Act shall enter into force on the date of promulgation.