Page 70 - 2022 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

1. To protect the reproductive health of new immigrant women before they are covered by National Health Insurance, from 2021, new immigrants whose spouse is a ROC citizens receive the same prenatal check subsidy as ROC citizens; on July 1, 2021 the number of prenatal examinations was increased from 10 to 14 adding gestational diabetes mellitus screening, anemia testing, and has increased the number of general ultrasound examinations from 1 to 3. 1,928 cases were subsidized in 2021.
2. To provide pregnant new immigrant women with reproductive supervision and health education counselling, check if cases receiving regular checks or need refereeing to related resources. From 2021 the comprehensive health plan for local subsidy was included, handling the New Immigrant Pregnant Woman Reproduction Guide evaluation indicators. The achievement rate in 2021 was 96.63%.
3. To reduce new immigrants' treatment difficulties caused by the language barrier, local health bureaus can apply for the "Interpreter Training Program among New Residents" with the Ministry of the Interior's "New Resident Development Fund" since 2011. Local health bureaus have promoted training of interpreters
among new immigrants who have lived in Taiwan for many years, so that they can assist the departments' personnel in visiting new immigrants and providing them with outpatient service and prenatal health guidance. In 2021, 12 counties and cities applied for the program.
▏Section 3 Health Care for Rare Disease Patients and Groups with
Special Health Needs
In order to encourage early diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and assist patients in obtaining orphan drugs and special nutritional foods essential for the maintenance of life, in 2000, Taiwan promulgated the Rare Disease and Orphan Drug Act, becoming the fifth nation in the world to introduce legislation specifically designed to protect the rights and interests of rare disease patients. Since then, the Act has been amended three times. As of the end of 2021, a total of 19,187 rare diseases cases had been reported.
The MOHW has constructed a comprehensive medical service network for rare diseases, thus helping patients to secure the care and subsidies they need. The outcomes achieved for rare disease services for 2021 is shown in Figure 4-5.
Figure 4-5
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Announced 124 types of medication for rare diseases
Outcome of Rare Disease Care in 2021
Announced
types of rare diseases
Reported 19,187 cases
of rare disease through public announcement
Served 6,617 patients
with rare disease with specific care plans
Subsidized 1,367 patients
of rare diseases for their treatment and purchase of special nutritional supplements and emergency orphan drugs
Subsidized 2,905 patients
with rare diseases not covered by the NHI for their medical expenses
Approved 11 subsidy programs
in the open solicitation according to Regulations Governing Rewards for Prevention Work and Subsidies for Rare Diseases
Announced
Announced
80 test items for rare disease diagnosis confirmation in Taiwan
40 items of special nutrition foods for rare disease
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