A group of physicians yesterday proposed a “Healthy Taiwan Sprout Project” (健康台灣深耕計畫), and suggested that the central government begin the project with four main themes next year.
As part of president-elect William Lai’s (賴清德) “national project of hope,” a series of forums on healthcare have been held last month, with the last one held yesterday. The Alliance for Promoting Healthy Taiwan, organizer of the forums, said in a statement yesterday that a national conclusion forum would be held at the end of this month, and they would invite Lai to attend to listen to their suggestions.
“Healthy Taiwan” forum convener and former National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Hospital superintendent Chen Jyh-hong (陳志鴻) said yesterday that to meet the different needs of healthcare in different regions, they proposed the Healthy Taiwan Sprout Project.
Photo courtesy of the Alliance for Promoting Healthy Taiwan
They also suggested pushing forward the project in four themes next year — improving healthcare professionals’ working conditions, talent cultivation, smart medical services and social responsibility, he said.
Helping people live longer and remain healthy as they age is the most important goal of healthcare, so the forum focused on the most critical and urgent healthcare issues in Taiwanese society, Chen said, adding that the forums provide professional and feasible suggestions for achieving Lai’s policy proposal of a “healthy Taiwan, happy elderly society.”
Chen said they suggested that the central government launch the Healthy Taiwan Sprout Project with the four themes next year, and allow healthcare facilities and medical groups, such as medical societies and associations, to propose plans and apply for funding.
The plans can be reviewed by experts gathered by the government agencies involved, and implemented in five years, with rolling reviews each year to readjust the yearly funding according to their implementation results, he added.
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital superintendent Chiu Kuan-ming (邱冠明) said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he found Taiwan’s healthcare system to be strong, professional and solid, but lacking integration, so how to provide better integrated care on the existing basis is a top priority.
From early detection and prevention in the early stage, to hospice and palliative care in the final stage, the nation’s healthcare industry must become a new “sacred mountain protecting the nation” (護國神山), he said.
NCKU Hospital’s Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases director Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬) said that they have three suggestions regarding women’s health:
First, continue to advance a parent-child-friendly environment and women-friendly work environment.
Second, reinforce healthcare resources for women and children, including talent cultivation, healthcare subsidies for remote areas and improving medical care for the underprivileged.
Third, conduct cross-departmental integration of medical and social policies for women and children.
The government should make comprehensive improvements to prenatal and postnatal care for women, including high-risk pregnancy care and referral network, enhance depression prevention and treatment, and postnatal health management, said Chen Shee-uan (陳思原), Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology president and National Taiwan University Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology division director.
Alliance for Promoting Healthy Taiwan vice chairperson Chien Wen-jen (簡文仁) said that self-initiated, optimized and regular exercise is also an important goal, as people aged between 30 and 60 are usually busy working and raising a family and might not be in the habit of exercising regularly, which is a hidden health risk.
The government and the private sector must be aware of it and offer incentives to help people get into the habit of exercising regularly, which could delay the onset of health conditions associated with aging and prevent rapid growth in demand for long-term healthcare services, he said.
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