Taiwan health ministry to get $2.9 billion boost to fight COVID-19

TAIPEI: Taiwan's health ministry will receive an extra T$79.2 billion ($2.87 billion) in spending to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, including buying vaccines, the government said on Thursday, detailing a stimulus package approved this week.

Taiwan's parliament approved on Monday an extra T$420 billion in spending to help the economy deal with the virus' impact, as the island curbs business activity to counter a spike in domestic infections. The new money is in addition to previous stimulus spending worth T$420 billion, and the funding will run until June 30 of next year.