The official launch of "the comprehensive inclusion of newborns into the system of dedicated pediatricians" has taken place. Newborns will be completely included in the "Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children" as of November 1st, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. A specialized doctor can be assigned to each kid between the ages of 0 and 3 for individualized health care, which may include early diagnosis of potential developmental delays, preventative injections, fluoride coating of the teeth, etc.
The dedicated pediatrician system will be officially launched in November.Photo provided by Ministry of Health and Welfare
According to Hsueh Jui-yuan, Minister of Health and Welfare, the early childhood physician system was introduced in 2020 as an experiment trial. It was initially exclusively supported by six counties and cities in Taiwan, but this year it has spread to twenty-two counties and cities. Newborns will be completely included starting in November, while enrollment was previously free. Vaccinations, growth and development evaluations based on the neonate's developmental stage, observation and examination of the newborn during consultations, and proactive communication with the child's family are all provided by pediatricians.
Hsueh further underlined that the "Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children" is a crucial component of the "Optimization of Children's Medical Care Plan," with a budget of almost NT$2 billion for the whole 2024. Liu, Yueh-Ping, Director of the Department of Medical Affairs said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare would cover the NT$500 case management charge per kid annually through the "Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children," and there would also be incentives for further immunizations, screenings, etc.
The dedicated pediatrician system will be officially launched in November.Photo provided by Ministry of Health and Welfare
