CONCRETE ACTION: The government needs to act on infant mortality, child obesity, video game addiction and substance abuse, among other issues, an institute said
Taipei Times
Date: Apr 03, 2019
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
The National Health Research Institute yesterday published a white paper on child
National Health Research Institutes President Liang Kung-yee, left, proposes a policy white paper on child healthcare to Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung at the ministry in Taipei yesterday.Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times
medicine and health policies, calling on the government to tackle four major issues.
The 700-page white paper outlines policies that the government should address by 2030, and compiles suggestions from more than 200 child health specialists, government officials and non-governmental organizations, the institute’s Child Health Research Center said.
In its last section, the document urges the government to first take measures to reduce child and adolescent mortality rates, lower the child obesity rate, reduce electronic device addiction and substance abuse, and establish an integrated child medicine and health system.
The infant mortality rate in Taiwan is about 4.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, which would rank the nation 27th in the 35-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Institute of Population Sciences director Hsiung Chao (熊昭) said, adding that there is room for improvement. [FULL STORY]
