Bureau of National Health Insurance has decided to lower the NHI reimbursement for several kinds of peritoneal dialysis solutions starting May 1st, by nearly 10%.

Still, the DOH stressed that the decision is made based on a thorough evaluation, and the medical quality will not be affected.

The Control Yuan has singled out the problem that consumes a huge sum of resources of the National Health Insurance, which are the hefty expenses of dialysis treatment. Therefore, starting from May first, the Department of Health has decided to lower the reimbursement standard on some drugs, including several dozen dialysis solution and drugs to treat anemia, by about 10 percent.

There are nearly 6,000 peritoneal patients in Taiwan, about 10 percent of the overall dialysis patients.

National Health Insurance Bureau investigates that the transaction price of the solutions used are actually half of what the health insurance pays.

And it's been seven years since the bureau adjusts the price.

That's why it is making the decision to lower the reimbursement standard.

Some patients worry that the bureau's move would transfer the financial burdens to themselves and affect their rights.

The Bureau says that pharmaceutical companies are still making profit and the move won't influence medical quality.

But besides the first round of price readjustment in next month, the bureau is likely to carry out another round in October.