By Sherrie Mancini
One of the most inspiring examples in global healthcare reform comes from a country many don’t realize is fully capitalist: Taiwan.
When Taiwan rebuilt its system in the 1990s, it did something extraordinary: It investigated every major health system in the world, took the best ideas, left the rest, and created something uniquely its own.
This isn’t about promoting single-payer for the U.S. It’s about showing what becomes possible when a nation starts from scratch and makes the people — not profit extraction — the priority.
Look at What They Designed:
- A universal “smart card” – Every citizen carries a health smart card that stores basic medical info and links to a unified digital database.
It reduces billing complexity, shrinks documentation time, and nearly eliminates administrative waste. - Freedom to see any doctor or hospital. No provider networks. No prior authorizations. No weeks of waiting for “approval.” Patients simply receive care.
- Streamlined administration. Taiwan runs its entire system at roughly 1–2% administrative cost — compared to the U.S., where administrative spending approaches 15–25% depending on measurement. This alone frees billions for actual care.
- Universal coverage at low overall cost. Despite offering choice and rapid access, Taiwan spends far less than the U.S. as a share of GDP — with excellent outcomes and high public satisfaction.
And here’s the key part:
Taiwan pulled ideas from Germany, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, and even lessons from our own system. Not ideology. Not political slogans. Just evidence and effectiveness.
Why This Matters for the United States. Our goal may not be single-payer.
But Taiwan proves something bigger:
A wealthy, capitalist country can redesign healthcare intentionally — and succeed — when the people are centered and the system is built on transparency, access, and efficiency.
The point isn’t to copy Taiwan. The point is to recognize that change is possible when you choose what works rather than what is profitable for intermediaries. The blueprint is out there. Other nations have already shown us the possibilities.
