Plastics suppliers asked to prioritize medical sectorDISRUPTION: Most of the medical devices can be made domestically, so as long as the supply of raw materials is maintained, people do not have to worry, an official saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterMinister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) yesterday said that the ministry is working with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to ask local plastic material suppliers to prioritize healthcare-related manufacturers to avoid a shortage. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang speaks at the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee in Taipei yesterday. “We have asked key [local] suppliers of plastic raw materials and plastic microbeads to prioritize supplying them to medical device manufacturers and healthcare sectors to ensure continuity of supply,” Shih said. Most of the medical devices can be made domestically, so as long as the supply of raw materials is stably maintained, people do not have to worry, he said. The NT$20 billion was originally for addressing the possible negative impact caused by the US’ “reciprocal tariffs,” but it has not been used, he said, adding that if the war drives up the prices of drugs and medical devices, the ministry would use this money to respond.

Source: Taipei Times March 25, 2026 17:13 UTC