Page 4 - 2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

2024 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

Preface

As Taiwan transitions from the nationwide COVID-19 response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)
continues to enhance its healthcare and social welfare services, focusing on two key policy pillars: "lifelong
comprehensive care" and "globally synchronized health and welfare improvements." These initiatives aim to build

a society rooted in mutual support and inclusivity, creating a supportive environment for both physical and mental
health.

In response to the challenges of an aging society and declining birth rates, related issues and policies have
received significant attention. To address the increasing trend of solitary elderly individuals, MOHW has launched
the "Enhanced Care Service Plan for the Solitary Elderly," encouraging local governments to integrate community

resources to improve home safety and strengthen social connections for elderly individuals living alone.
Additionally, we promote elderly functional assessment services to detect early signs of functional decline and
intervene promptly with exercises, nutrition, and other measures to prevent and delay disability onset. To address
declining birth rates, MOHW continues to expand subsidies for infertility treatments to alleviate the financial
burden on couples. We are increasing childcare allowances, enhancing subsidies, promoting public childcare
services, and creating a child-friendly environment. Furthermore, we are optimizing the pediatric healthcare
system, expanding perinatal care networks, and establishing collaborative mechanisms for children with rare and
severe medical conditions. Since 2023, newborns have been included in the Project of Holistic Physicians for
Young Children, ensuring comprehensive and integrated care for children's healthy development in Taiwan.

To foster a supportive healthcare environment, MOHW has enacted the Indigenous Peoples Health Act,
convened the "Health Policy Conference of Indigenous Peoples," and established the National Indigenous
Peoples Health Research Center to advance health equality for Indigenous peoples. We have also revised the
Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act to impose a comprehensively ban on imitation tobacco products, such as
electronic cigarettes, and to tighten regulations on new tobacco products. Our Five-Point Food Safety Policy

continues bolstering food safety measures, and the implementation of the Regulations on Good Practices for Drug
Dispensation aims to enhance the quality of domestic pharmaceutical services and ensure patient medication
safety. In response to the 2023 local dengue fever outbreak, we mobilized a Dengue Fever Mobile Epidemic
Prevention Team to oversee local governments' efforts in epidemic prevention and to curb the spread of diseases.

MOHW is committed to creating a supportive work environment, implementing 12 strategies under the
Nursing Workforce Preparation Plan (2023-2030). This initiative involves inter-ministerial collaboration to address
the current nursing workforce shortage and improve working conditions and benefits. We are establishing a
dedicated platform for friendly nursing workplaces, encouraging hospitals to publicly share information on nursing
labor conditions for a positive practice environment. We are also strengthening non-litigation medical dispute
resolution mechanisms by piloting the "Diverse Two-Way Medical Dispute Resolution Mechanism" to reduce

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