TFRD’s Rare Disease Drug Advocacy Film Awarded

TFRD's advocacy short film on rare disease treatment, "Why Can't We Treat It When There's a Drug Available?", stood out among 173 submissions at the 2025 9th Taipei Golden Eagle Short Film Festival, earning the Bronze Award. Deputy Executive Director Hong Yu-Dai attended the award ceremony on September 12 to accept the honor on behalf of the TFRD.

The film sheds light on two rare and challenging conditions—AADC deficiency and Niemann-Pick disease. Through heartfelt testimonies from patients' families, it captures the helplessness, despair, and long waiting periods they endure due to the prohibitive cost of new treatments. In the story, the mother of "Little Sun" worries that her child’s delayed access to medication could mean missing the vital golden window for treatment—and the opportunity to improve their condition.

TFRD Founder Ms. Serena Wu cites physicist Stephen Hawking's words, "Everyone is the center of the universe," to emphasize that the true value of national health insurance lies in the value of human life itself.

This film aims to raise societal awareness about rare disease medication access, helping more people understand the critical importance of expediting NHI reimbursement reviews.

TFRD sincerely thanks the Taipei Golden Eagle Short Film Festival for this recognition. This honor not only affirms the quality of the film's production but also strengthens our commitment to continued advocacy for rare disease patients. We will remain dedicated to upholding medical justice and bringing hope to rare disease families.

Watch the film "Why Can't We Treat It When There's a Drug?" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLOwMN0bZYc

Translator: David Lee (Becker Muscular Dystrophy)