EVALUATING THE BENEFITS OF AMELIORATING METABOLIC-SYNDROME-RELATED DISEASES IN TAIWAN.

This paper uses the travel cost method and regression model to evaluate the benefits of ameliorating metabolic-syndrome-related diseases in Taiwan. Data from the "Ditmanson Medical Foundation Cha-Yi Christian Hospital" and National Health Insurance (NHI) are used for the empirical analysis. The results show that if we can ameliorate risk factors such as hypertension, cholesterol and overweight among metabolic-syndrome-related diseases sufferers so that the risk levels are no higher than level found in the general population, the benefits of ameliorating disease are that the cost of medical service can be reduced NT$ 3.341,$0.794 and$1.464 billion, then add economic benefits NT$12.454,$2.983 and $5.489 billion respectively in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]