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.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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