To protect children's health, since 2021 the government has promoted the first phase of a children's health care improvement program (2021-2024), allocating NT$2.8 billion (US$85.3 million) to enhance perinatal and pediatric emergency and critical care, as well as to strengthen pediatric primary care and health management. The second phase of this program (2025-2028) will allocate NT$13.5 billion (US$411.1 million) to implement a ranking system for major hospitals based on their ability to provide perinatal and pediatric critical care; improve personnel capacity and retention of relevant medical specialists; and deliver better integrated health care services for children.
Key points of the program's second phase
■ Enhance perinatal, neonatal and pediatric continuity of care: Create a ranking system for major hospitals based on their perinatal and pediatric care capabilities, and reward those hospitals for maintaining or improving their quality of care. Continue supporting follow-up care for high-risk pregnancy cases, as well as home care for newborns with low or very low birth weight.
■ Strengthen integration and coordination of medical resources for severe pediatric diseases: Emphasize training and retention of medical specialists for severe and rare diseases at core hospitals in four key areas (neonatology, pediatric cancer, severe pediatric diseases and pediatric genetics). Integrate vital children's health services such as child and adolescent psychiatry, and vision care for children with multiple disabilities.
■ Optimize child-centered primary care and health management: Incorporate all neonatal care into the dedicated pediatrician system, gradually expanding the system's scope of practice. Link together the medical, public health and social welfare systems to improve child health care services. Continue to improve the accuracy of child development screenings and the efficacy of child development joint assessment services. Integrate services such as infant oral care, child injury prevention and control, and child obesity prevention and management.