A unique drug-injury relief system in Taiwan: comparing drug-injury compensation in different countries

Taiwan operates a unique no-fault compensation-based scheme for injuries caused by medication use. This article describes the operation of the Taiwan Drug Relief Foundation and some results since the Taiwan Drug Hazard Relief Act was enacted in 2000. We also briefly review similar no-fault compensation systems in Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Nordic countries. The existence of these schemes provides timely relief and compensation to victims by avoiding the otherwise lengthy court process; however, medication safety education and applied pharmacogenomic and pharmacoepidemiological research are future aspirations to proactively address and prevent drug-induced injuries.