Frequent food safety issues have prompted the academic community to develop a national nutrition law

Gasoline and electricity prices are rising, and even health insurance premiums are expected to increase. In recent years, food safety issues have attracted much attention, and public groups have questioned whether the government's quality of health care and food safety management has not improved. In response to this, the Taiwan Nutrition Society called on 5,000 people to take to the streets yesterday, the 28th, in the form of a carnival and action drama, demanding that the executive branch and the Legislative Yuan complete the legislation of the "National Nutrition Law" as soon as possible to promote people's nutrition and health.

The Taiwan Nutrition Society called on 5,000 people to take to the streets yesterday, demanding that the Legislative Yuan pass the "National Nutrition Law" as soon as possible to protect the nutritional health of the people. (Photo provided by Wang Jinkun, Chairman of the Taiwan Nutrition Society)

As for how health insurance can increase revenue and reduce expenditure? Experts have made suggestions. Wang Jinkun, chairman of the Taiwan Nutrition Society, said that taking obesity as an example, the national health insurance expenditure reached 507.7 billion in 2011. If the obesity problem of the entire population is solved, it is estimated that the health insurance expenditure can be reduced by 10 to 12% (about 50 to 60 billion). If the entire population can consume enough fruits and vegetables, it is expected that the expenditure can be reduced by another 12 to 15% (about 60 to 75 billion). The extra funds can be invested in nutritional care for the people, especially the elderly and young children.

The legislative spirit of the National Nutrition Law is to promote the nutritional health of all people. It is not only what the nutrition community has been looking forward to for a long time, but also an important matter concerning the health rights of all citizens! In fact, the draft National Nutrition Act has been submitted to the Executive Yuan for review for a long time, but has yet to be passed as final legislation. In addition, the emergence of food safety concerns such as melamine, plasticizers, and clenbuterol in recent years, as well as the increasingly serious obesity and nutrition problems among the elderly, have highlighted the urgency of enacting a National Nutrition Act.

Regarding the legislation of the National Nutrition Act, legislators Tsai Chin-lung, Chen Xue-sheng, Su Ching-quan and Lu Yu-ling have expressed their hope that it can be included in the priority bills at the latest in the next session. The Department of Health and the Presidential Office have also stated that they will push for the implementation of the bill as soon as possible.