Taiwan to upgrade pediatric care as population declines

台灣將因出生率下降而提升兒科醫療水平

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is planning to upgrade pediatric healthcare services as the nation's falling birth rate reduces demand, prompting reforms to reimbursement and care systems, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Saturday.

Shih said the National Health Insurance Administration is reviewing pediatric reimbursement policies and will adjust related payments. Proposed changes include increasing pediatric physician consultation fees, with outlays potentially doubling, per Liberty Times.

More specialized pediatric treatments will also be added to expanded coverage. Proposals are due to the NHIA in June and could be approved by July.

Speaking at a forum at National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, Shih said adjustments to pediatric care compensation and coverage might be introduced in two phases. He noted that high-quality, low-volume services typically characterize pediatric healthcare, while the current reimbursement system is largely quantity-based.

With declining demand for pediatric services, Shih said reforms are necessary. He added that this year's NHIA budget has increased by nearly NT$60 billion (US$1.89 billion) compared with last year, allowing room for adjustments.

He said the reforms will focus on two main areas. First, inpatient consultation fees will be reviewed and adjusted, as the number of hospitalized children has declined while the severity of cases has increased. Second, procedures and application codes for treatments performed by pediatric specialists will be reassessed, with reimbursements adjusted for specialized care.

Shih also said the designated pediatric physician system will be extended to cover children up to age six, up from the current limit of three. A quality-based reimbursement model will be introduced, incorporating services such as vaccinations, hearing screenings, and developmental delay assessments, with incentives tied to services provided.

Looking ahead, Shih said Taiwan's healthcare system will move toward a "different pay for different work" model.

He added that the government is building a children's medical network that will include core hospitals and a strengthened primary care system. Plans are also underway to establish a Child and Family Support Agency to integrate policies on prenatal screening, child development, and support for vulnerable families, with the goal of full implementation before Children's Day on April 4 next year.