Consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations: Challenges and strategies for high-risk populations in Taiwan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, particularly in high-risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions. In response to the evolving pandemic landscape and the recent surge in confirmed cases in Taiwan, the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine (TAFM) established a consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for vulnerable groups through a comprehensive literature review, expert panel discussions, and a practice-oriented formulation procedure to develop evidence-based guidance. Its key findings highlight the increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes among individuals with disorders such as diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illness.

Impact of team-based community healthcare on preventable hospitalisation: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the impact of Taiwan's Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP) on hospitalisation.

Design: A population-based cohort study compared the hospitalisation rates for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among FPICP participating and non-participating patients during 2011-2015.

Setting: The study accessed the FPICP reimbursement database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) administration containing all NHI administration-selected patients for FPICP enrolment.

Team-based care improves quality of diabetes care -Family Practice Integrated Care Project in Taiwan.

Background: The Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP) is a team-based program in Taiwan initiated in 2003. This study investigates the influence of FPICP on the quality of diabetes care.

Methods: This population-based cohort study used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration data on FPICP (fiscal year 2015-2016, with follow-up duration of one year).

Awareness of, attitude toward, and willingness to participate in pay for performance programs among family physicians: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The National Health Insurance Administration of Taiwan has introduced several pay-for-performance programs to improve the quality of healthcare. This study aimed to provide government with evidence-based research findings to help primary care physicians to actively engage in pay-for-performance programs.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among family physicians with age-stratified sampling from September 2016 to December 2017.

Family physician system in Taiwan.

Following economic development and increasing healthcare demand, Taiwan has not only built a universal healthcare coverage payment system in 1995, but has also developed an accountable family physician system, called the Family Practice Integrated Care Project (FPICP), to deal with the pressures of an ageing society, since 2003. The community healthcare group-based family physician system is not only an important milestone for the development of family medicine in Taiwan but may also even serve as a global example for future family doctor systems. In this review, we aim to review the development of family medicine in Taiwan, the implementation and achievement of the FPICP, as well as the future prospects of system-based healthcare system.