Taiwan’s Health Ministry announced the nationwide implementation of the Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children on Tuesday. Beginning in November, children under three years old and their parents will receive comprehensive medical care services without application and additional payments.
Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said in a press conference that all babies born after November this year will be automatically included in the project. He continued to say personal physicians will be assigned to newborns and their parents to provide consultation, vaccination, and fluoride application. Hsueh also said the physicians will also help keep track of children’s welfare, and preventative measures will be taken to intervene in situations such as developmental delay or domestic violence.
The project was initially trialed in six counties in 2020, with four others joining in 2022. It will be further expanded to the whole country this year. More than 1000 hospitals and over 1800 specialized doctors have participated in the project so far. Around 166,000 people have received care under the policy.