The National Conscription Administration (NCA) under the Ministry of the Interior yesterday urged the Ministry of National Defense to revise the health requirements for alternative military service, following the sudden death whilst on duty of an epileptic serviceman on Saturday.
But a defense ministry official, who declined to be identified, told the Taipei Times yesterday that it is not the ministry's responsibility.
Currently, under the Military Service Law's Alternative Service Regulations for Military Service, patients suffering from heart disease, epilepsy or any of another 88 diseases are required to take alternative military service.
The NCA, however, believes that sufferers of heart disease, epilepsy, and 45 of the 88 listed diseases should also be exempted from alternative military service.
A month ago, the NCA submitted a draft revision to the law to the defense ministry, which has not yet responded.
Chung Tai-li
"Unhealthy servicemen place a burden on the military," Chung said.
"We hope that the defense ministry can revise the standard as soon as possible so that people suffering ill-health won't need to perform military service."
An official from the defense ministry, who declined to be identified, however, said that all matters relating to conscription are the responsibility of the NCA.
The Military Service Law states that the government department responsible for any amendments to that law is the defense ministry.
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