Taoyuan City began fully subsidizing newborn congenital metabolic disorder screening in May. The city now covers the NT$1,450 self-paid test fee and the NT$350 fee for 21 publicly funded screening items, reducing each newborn family's cost by up to NT$1,800. More than 10,000 babies are expected to benefit each year.
The subsidy places common newborn screening costs under city funding. For families welcoming a baby, it can reduce early medical expenses and lower the chance that parents delay testing because of cost. Compared with treating a condition only after it is found later, screening soon after birth helps medical teams identify possible cases earlier.
Congenital metabolic disorders may not show clear symptoms in the early newborn stage. Hospitals usually collect samples about 2 days after birth. If results are abnormal, follow-up testing, treatment and continued monitoring can be arranged to reduce later health risks.
Taoyuan City has also expanded subsidies for pregnant women this year. In addition to newborn screening, self-paid vaccines during pregnancy are included, such as the Tdap vaccine and respiratory syncytial virus vaccine. Subsidies range from NT$1,800 to NT$7,680 depending on birth order.
People who are pregnant or expecting to give birth soon can check eligibility based on pregnancy stage, delivery time and household registration. They may ask their prenatal or delivery hospital, or contact the Department of Women and Children Affairs of Taoyuan City Government for subsidy details.
