Government developing medical care services aimed at growing elderly population: CEPD

December 6, 2006

As Taiwan's senior citizen population grows, medical care services have become a higher priority in government economic policies, said the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD). The government has forwarded a plan to improve the quality of medical organizations, which could raise care-related industry output from NTD 696.2 billion in 2005 to NTD 772.4 in 2009.

The CEPD shared these findings in a recent report on Taiwan's aging population and related business opportunities. According the report, citizens of 65 years and older comprise 10% of Taiwan's population. The report also estimates that this number will grow to 13% of the population by 2016, which would match Taiwan's 15 year-old and under population, thereby approaching international norms.

According to the CEPD, the government is watching closely the effect of the aging population on Taiwan's economy. As such, health care has been listed as an emerging industry under the government's Industrial Development Package Program, part of the first stage of the recently unveiled economic stimulus package entitled the Three-Year Sprint Program. Health care services for the elderly have been included as part of the development focus of the program, with the hope of providing dignified, comfortable, and immediate care services in individual residences and the community, as well as a better quality of life.

The Industry Development Package Program has listed medical care as a 'focus service industry'. According to the CEPD, the government is currently implementing a plan to develop 'miniaturized' medical equipment normally used in hospitals so individuals can use them in their homes. Specific measures from the plan include improving the quality of medical care organizations and training for medical personnel; developing a medical care digitization industry; and internationalizing medical care services in Taiwan.

The CEPD noted that Taiwan has already started the process of addressing the needs of its growing elderly population -- in 2002, the government implemented the "Care Services Welfare and Industrial Development Program" in which training for over 25,000 people has been provided for patient care personnel and home care-givers.

In addition, the government is also actively promoting a program to encourage private participation in the construction of nursing homes for the elderly.

The CEPD said that Taiwan industries are now facing a key turning point -- with the increasing competition under the emergence of globalization, the knowledge economy and professional specialization, there is a growing need for technology and professional manpower. To this end the government is implementing several programs, "Functional Training for Development Focus Industries" and "Expanding Cultivation of Professional Workforce for Industry", to help Taiwan companies gain business opportunities in the global market for elderly care-related businesses.

(Central News Agency)

E-mail this page.