Health rights 結果共12筆

Discover how Taiwan’s delegation to the World Health Assembly in Geneva is advocating for the island’s health rights and international participation, despite challenges.

Discover how Taiwan is advocating for its inclusion in WHO activities by hosting a diplomatic reception in Geneva, highlighting its top-ranked public health system and garnering international support.

In Taipei, a survey by the Doctors’ Union highlights that nearly 30% of female doctors are required to work night shifts, prompting calls for amendments to the Medical Care Act to better protect pregnant and child-rearing female doctors. The Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasizes existing protections but faces challenges in enforcing these due to previous constitutional rulings. Amendments aim to allow night shifts for pregnant doctors with consent, under specific conditions, with fines for non-compliance. The situation underscores the ongoing struggle to balance medical care needs with gender equality and workers’ rights.

KMT legislator Chang Chia-chun advocates for government subsidies for egg freezing to combat Taiwan’s declining birthrate, emphasizing the need for women’s reproductive autonomy and equal rights. Despite a national crisis, only three cities offer such subsidies, and a central government report remains unevaluated after a year. Chang calls for swift action from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The Taiwan Federation of Medical Unions criticizes the rumored appointment of Chiu Tai-yuan as Health and Welfare Minister, citing his past refusal to engage with the union and opposition to disability rights amendments. They outline five qualities essential for the role, emphasizing the need for reform, communication, and respect within the healthcare sector to address workforce challenges and improve public health.

Premier Chen Chien-jen expresses deep sorrow over a recent child abuse case in Taipei, emphasizing the need for collaboration among central and local governments and civic groups to safeguard the rights of children and youth. He instructs government agencies to review response procedures and amend relevant laws for better protection.

Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan acknowledges shared responsibility in recent child abuse case, prompting examination and amendment to child welfare laws. Shocking incident involving daycare worker in Taipei stirs societal uproar. Emphasis on local implementation of child rights law and need for improved communication between central and local authorities highlighted. Calls for immediate review meetings by local government in major child abuse cases underscored.

Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen takes steps to prevent price collusion in medical institutions, emphasizing government commitment to health rights equality. Ministry of Health and Welfare cancels upper limit for registration fees at clinics, allowing price adjustments according to market mechanisms. Fair Trade Commission to intervene in case of price collusion.

DPP chairman and presidential candidate Lai Ching-te has proposed including mainland Chinese students in Taiwan’s healthcare system, citing medical human rights and the strengthening of the epidemic prevention system. Lai’s plan, which treats mainland Chinese students as international students and includes them in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, has faced objections from some party legislators. However, Lai has stated that after providing necessary clarification, fellow party members have generally accepted the idea. Lai has emphasized the human rights perspective of his proposal and distinguished it from criticism of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) for nominating a legislator connected with China. Lai believes that including mainland Chinese students in the NHI system will make the healthcare network more comprehensive, especially after three years of pandemic prevention efforts.

Taiwanese health authorities plan to include Chinese students in the island’s health insurance starting from the 2024 school year, according to Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan. Currently, international students must wait six months after arriving in Taiwan to be eligible for health insurance. The reform was prompted by concerns from Paraguay about the health rights of its students in Taiwan and was supported by Vice President Lai Ching-te, who advocated for equal treatment of Chinese students. Currently, international students with a residence permit and six months of residency in Taiwan can apply for health insurance at a cost of NT$826 per person per month. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mainland Affairs Council, has been considering this measure for some time and has evaluated its financial impact. The inclusion of Chinese students in the health insurance program will require adjustments to premiums for all international students, but the overall impact is expected to be minimal. The new measure will not apply to students who are in Taiwan for short periods and not pursuing a degree. However, it could be implemented as early as September 2024 for international students with a residence permit. Despite a halt on Chinese students coming to Taiwan since 2020, 378 students registered in 2022. The peak of Chinese students in Taiwan was in 2016, with a total of 41,975 students.

Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Hsueh Jui-yuan, confirms planned amendments to the ＂Assisted Reproduction Act＂ will include changes to surrogacy policies, extending coverage to same-sex partners, single women, and surrogate mothers. The draft law will be made public early next year and reviewed by the Executive Yuan by the year’s end. Presidential candidates have called for surrogacy policy consideration, with Ko Wen-je inviting a long-term surrogacy policy advocate for discussion. The amendments are not influenced by Ko’s political platform. The ongoing effort to amend the law has been ongoing for two-and-a-half years, with a preliminary draft of 42 articles finalized and 13 expert meetings held. The revision aims to protect children’s rights while addressing same-sex marriage, single women, and surrogacy issues. Surrogacy services will require professional consultation and legal contracts to outline rights and obligations for both parties.

Six factories of Advanced International Multitech Co., Ltd, the parent company of Launch Technologies Co., have been fined NT$680,000 for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This comes after a tragic fire at a Launch Technologies factory in Pingtung resulted in over a hundred casualties.