Taiwan continues to grapple with health issues

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - COVID-19 was the third-most deadly health condition in Taiwan last year, according to the latest official data.

Figures released Monday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare showed that around 15,000 people died from the coronavirus in 2022 after a significant surge in cases the previous year.

The virus, which spread worldwide after emerging in China in late 2019, mainly affected people aged 65 and over in Taiwan. The surge was the highest increase in the cause of death, followed by rises in hypertensive diseases, heart disease and diabetes.

Since December 2019, over 10 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in Taiwan, including 19,000 fatalities as of mid-March this year, according to the Worldometer website.

The ministry attributed the high number of deaths to the pandemic's impact and an aging population.

"COVID will drop as a leading cause of death to sixth or seventh place, but it depends on the progress of the epidemic in Taiwan," said Lo Yi-chun, deputy director general of the country's Centers for Disease Control, as quoted by Taiwan News.

- Cancer remains highest cause of death

Cancer was again the primary cause of death in Taiwan, retaining its spot for over four decades, according to the Health Ministry data.

Cancer deaths reached 51,927, equating to one death every 10 minutes last year, with a mortality rate of 222.7 per 100,000. The overall mortality rate from all diseases rose to 893.8 per 100,000.

Other major deadly health problems include heart diseases, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, injuries from accidents, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and nephrosis, according to the ministry.

Taiwan has a population of 23.5 million, and the average age is 42.5 years compared to the world average, which is over 30, according to the latest figures from the online resource Our World in Data.