Cabinet approves long-term care program

2015/11/23

A three-year, NT$30 billion (US$921 million) program to boost the development of long-term care services for the elderly and disabled in Taiwan was passed by the Cabinet Nov. 19.

Aiming to enhance the quality and productivity of the long-term care industry, the initiative will integrate public and private resources, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said, adding he expects to see a healthy business environment in place when related insurance and service bills take effect in 2017.

“Services targeting the needs of society’s elderly members are projected to see exponential growth going forward,” he said. “Building on the raft of measures scheduled for implementation, the government is working to create a sustainable ecosystem with a sufficient workforce and active participation from enterprises.”

Mao made the remarks after being briefed on the program by the Ministry of Health and Welfare during a Cabinet meeting in Taipei City.

Under the initiative, NT$30 billion will be spent over the next three years to upgrade the sector’s human resources by expanding employment opportunities, improving working conditions and strengthening professional certification. In total, the MOHW plans to increase the number of caregivers and medical personnel in the industry by 30,000 and 8,000, respectively, within three years.

Special attention will be given to the country’s outlying islands and remote regions, with adult day care services projected to be available in all townships by the end of 2016.

In addition, the ministry plans to bolster Taiwan’s long-term care services by adding a moderate level of corporate investment to the mix, with the private sector expected to help facilitate development primarily in the areas of assistive devices, community and household-based services, senior housing facilities and transportation.

“As of year-end 2014, roughly 11.9 percent of Taiwan’s population, or 2.8 million people, was already aged 65 or over,” MOHW Minister Chiang Been-huang said.

“Among these seniors, approximately 460,000 were disabled and required professional assistance. The situation serves as a salient reminder of the need for enhanced measures to promote the sustainable development of the long-term care sector.”

Chiang said he expects the three-year program to substantively expand Taiwan’s long-term care capacity, which will ensure that services are extended to not just seniors but all mentally and physically challenged citizens by 2018.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239188&ctNode=2194&mp=9)