Page 66 - 2023 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

04 2023 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report 04

average life expectancy and the national average patients in obtaining orphan drugs and special nutritional
life expectancy at birth has narrowed from 8.17 foods essential for the maintenance of life, in 2000,
years in 2017 to 6.94 years. Taiwan promulgated the Rare Disease and Orphan Drug
Act, becoming the fifth nation in the world to introduce
Section 2 Health Care for New Immigrants
legislation specifically designed to protect the rights and
The MOHW has promoted the following policies to
interests of rare disease patients. Since then, the Act
improve the reproductive health of new immigrants before
has been amended three times. As of the end of 2022, a
their inclusion in the national healthcare insurance system,
total of 19,780 rare diseases cases had been reported.
and to reduce the barriers caused by language, which
1. The MOHW has constructed a comprehensive
hinder their adaptation to life or access to medical care:
medical service network for rare diseases, thus
1. Since 2011, new immigrant pregnant women
helping patients to secure the care and subsidies
whose spouses are ROC citizens have been entitled
they need. The outcomes achieved for rare disease
to the same prenatal care benefits as Taiwanese
services for 2022 is shown in Figure 4-5.
nationals. As of July 1, 2021 the number of prenatal
examinations for pregnant women has increased 2. Health care for Yu Cheng Patients
from 10 to 14, and the number of routine ultrasound (1) To safeguard the healthcare rights and interests
examinations has increased from 1 to 3. Additionally, of Yu Cheng patients, the "Yu Cheng Patients
screening for gestational diabetes and anemia has Health Care Services Act" was promulgated on
been newly introduced. As of 2022, a total of 1,512 February 4, 2015. This act provides services such
cases have been subsidized. as copayments for National Health Insurance
2. To provide new immigrant pregnant women with outpatient and emergency services expenses, free
reproductive guidance and health education health examination, special clinics for Yu Cheng
counselling, check if cases receiving regular checks patients, and reduced first generation Yu Cheng
or need refereeing to related resources. From 2021 patient's copayments for National Health Insurance
the comprehensive health plan for local subsidy was inpatient expenses. The eligibility criteria for first
included, handling the "New Immigrant Pregnant generation patients have been extended to those
Woman Reproduction Guidance" evaluation born up to the year 1980. Furthermore, the MOHW
indicators. The achievement rate in 2022was 93.3%. also established health care promotional group
for the Yu Cheng patients and Yu Cheng patient's
3. To reduce new immigrants' treatment difficulties
surviving spouse and lineal descendants may apply
caused by the language barrier, local health bureaus
for a one-time solatium. On November 16, 2016,
can apply for the "Interpreter Training Program among
amendments were made to Articles 4 and 12 in
New Residents" with the Ministry of the Interior's
the aforementioned Act, relaxing the criteria for
"New Resident Development Fund" since 2011. Local
identifying Yu Cheng patients and extending the
health bureaus have promoted training of interpreters
deadline for claiming solatium until August 9, 2020.
among new immigrants who have lived in Taiwan
for many years, so that they can assist the health On September 5, 2022, revised guidelines on "The
departments' personnel in visiting new immigrants Standard of Criterion for Polychlorinated Biphenyls
and providing them with outpatient service and (PCBs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran (PCDF)
prenatal health guidance. In 2022, 15 counties and Concentrations in Blood" were announced to
cities applied for the program. protect the rights of individuals suspected to be Yu
Cheng patients.
Section 3 Health Care for Rare Disease
(2) As of the end of 2022, there were a total of 1,892
Patients and Groups with
registered Yu Cheng patients, including 1,210 first
Special Health Needs generation patients and 682 second generation
In order to prevent and encourage early diagnosis patients. A total of 17,709 Yu Cheng patients
and treatment of rare diseases, as well as to assist received subsidy for outpatient (and emergency)

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