The Executive Yuan has approved the second phase of the pediatric healthcare optimization plan, which will see an estimated NT$13.5 billion invested from 2025 to 2028. This initiative aims to enhance the care for children with severe and rare diseases, improve talent training, and integrate key hospitals to strengthen tiered critical care services. Premier Cho Jung-tai hopes that by fully optimizing the pediatric healthcare network, Taiwan can reduce infant mortality rates and safeguard children's health.

The second phase of the plan further refines the perinatal and pediatric emergency care tiered hospital system. It aims to increase the capacity of pediatric healthcare professionals and promote their retention, incorporating more comprehensive child health care services. The budget for this phase is five times larger than the first phase.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's plan, the core hospitals will focus on enhancing the integration and coordination of resources for treating severe and rare diseases in children. These hospitals will be central to providing care for severe and rare diseases and training healthcare professionals. To address the shortage of pediatric care personnel, future efforts will focus on training and retaining professionals in neonatal care, pediatric oncology, severe pediatric conditions, and pediatric genetics.

The key hospitals will aim to provide comprehensive continuity of care from the perinatal period to neonatal and pediatric stages. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has planned a tiered system for key hospitals based on their capabilities and capacity in perinatal and pediatric critical care. These hospitals will be rewarded for maintaining operations and improving care quality, ensuring continuous medical care.

Resource (mandarin): 政院通過：4年投135億 強化兒童醫療