The falling birth rate is a very serious concern for Taiwan. The government has introduced several initiatives to increase births in order to promote births. Cities and counties worked together with taxi companies to develop the "Pregnancy Special Car" (好孕專車) program, which enables pregnant women to use a taxi to their maternity check-up. Since launching the transportation coupons for pregnant women in October of last year(孕婦產檢交通乘車券), Kaohsiung City has enlarged its eligibility to include all pregnant women registered in Kaohsiung as well as those with disabilities, special needs, new immigrants, and indigenous.
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The mayor of Kaohsiung (陳其邁) as the driver of The Kaohsiung Pregnancy Bus(好孕行得通專車) to care pregnant women in Kaohsiung City. Photo provided by Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government
The mayor of Kaohsiung (陳其邁) is especially concerned about the safety of expectant mothers and infants. The Social Affairs Bureau specifically designed the subsidy program for vulnerable pregnant women to take care of their traffic safety after the first full-time daycare service in the nation was introduced. The city government signed a contract with five taxi companies to provide coupons for vulnerable pregnant women in the 38 districts of the city to go to and from medical institutions during their prenatal checkups and verify the subsidies. In the obstetric examination medical center, pregnant women can directly receive the traffic ticket, a total of 28 trips, each with a denomination of NT$180 and a value of NT$5,040, making the transportation of pregnant women in Kaohsiung City more secure and convenient.
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The Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government established the platform (雄便利－身心障礙資訊通) for the public. Photo provided by Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government
Low- and middle-income households registered in Kaohsiung City, and economic and social workers who have identified needs are all eligible for transportation subsidies for vulnerable pregnant women. Go to the neighborhood district office or social welfare center with the necessary certification documents or submit an online application on Kaohsiung EasyGo. (高雄市民服務平台便民一路通)
20 tickets, each with a price of NT$180 and a maximum subsidy of NT$3,600, will be given to each qualified pregnant woman. For information on distributing cooperative institutions, please contact the Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government website (https://socbu.kcg.gov.tw/index.php?prog=2&b_id=3&m_id=13&s_id=2006)
or call Department of Social Affairs Women’s Center of Kaohsiung City Government.
