At the Cabinet's weekly meeting today, Premier Sean Chen heard the Ministry of the Interior's (MOI) progress report on a new disability assessment system implemented nationwide last year. The premier said that in 2006 when Taiwan elected to follow the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), it was among the first to do so.
The ICF-based system was launched in July 11, 2012 after years of preparatory work, said Chen. So far the numbers of disability aid applications and cases evaluated have been steady, but long assessment times and problems with case file setup have been reported. The premier said the new system should be streamlined and made more practical. He instructed the MOI and the Department of Health to make appropriate changes to mechanisms and procedures, and to keep all work on schedule so that social welfare services will closer match the needs of the disabled.
According to the MOI, the ICF-based system defines and classifies mental and physical disabilities according to eight body functions and structures, whereas previously the disabilities were categorized into 16 types. Another major difference is that the government now proactively assesses and offers the kind of services needed by the disabled rather than waits for them to apply. This will make better use of resources and meet real needs, Chen said.
The MOI said it will continue to publicize the program, improve service efficiency, provide on-site guidance and when necessary, change the disability assessment items.