Taiwan's Long-term Care 3.0 Initiative Set to Begin in 2026: Tackling Workforce Shortages and Gaps in Assessing Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Taiwan • Politics • 05/08 23:02
Taiwan's Long-term Care 3.0 Initiative Set to Begin in 2026: Tackling Workforce Shortages and Gaps in Assessing Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to implement the "Long-term Care 3.0" policy in 2026 to address manpower shortages with measures like tiered task allocation, improving salaries, and introducing assistive devices and smart technology. The new policy will expand services to cover early-onset dementia and stroke patients and encourage middle-aged and older adults to get involved. However, there are calls for system integration due to inconsistent eligibility criteria for osteogenesis imperfecta patients between the disability assessment system and the long-term care assessment system.

Key Updates

17h ago

Premier Cho Jung-tai of the Executive Yuan firmly supports energy transition and calls on the Legislative Yuan to allocate NT$100 billion to Taipower to stabilize electricity prices.

On May 9, 2025, Premier Cho Jung-tai reiterated in an exclusive interview that the government's second energy transition policy is correct. He emphasized the allocation of NT$100 billion to Taiwan Power Company to offset losses and stabilize electricity rates, thereby preventing industries from facing pressure due to electricity rates and tariffs. Taiwan Power Company promised not to raise electricity rates this year if the allocation is granted. With the decommissioning of the No. 2 unit at the Third Nuclear Power Plant, Taiwan has entered a nuclear-free era, drawing attention to energy policies. Cho Jung-tai urged the Legislative Yuan to support the allocation proposal, emphasizing the importance of advancing green energy development alongside maintaining power stability.

05/09 11:04

President of Taiwan, William Lai, is promoting the integration of smart medical care and health tech, with the goal of creating a trillion-dollar biomedical industry.

On May 9, 2025, President Lai Ching-te announced at the "2025 Biotechnology Strategy Annual Conference" that the government will promote the biomedical industry to become Taiwan's "national treasure" through smart healthcare and health technology, incorporating it into the core policy blueprint. President Lai emphasized the importance of cross-sector integration, regulatory easing, and technology application, and expressed gratitude for the support of the National Biotechnology and Medical Industry Promotion Association. On the same day, he attended the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, noting that the different ways countries commemorate the day reflect the diversity of historical interpretations.

05/08 23:02

Taiwan's Long-term Care 3.0 Initiative Set to Begin in 2026: Tackling Workforce Shortages and Gaps in Assessing Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to implement the "Long-term Care 3.0" policy in 2026 to address manpower shortages with measures like tiered task allocation, improving salaries, and introducing assistive devices and smart technology. The new policy will expand services to cover early-onset dementia and stroke patients and encourage middle-aged and older adults to get involved. However, there are calls for system integration due to inconsistent eligibility criteria for osteogenesis imperfecta patients between the disability assessment system and the long-term care assessment system.

05/07 23:02

Taiwan's flexible parental leave pilot program receives a cold reception: Only 24 companies have applied, with complicated procedures and staffing issues being the main reasons.

The Ministry of Labor has been piloting the "Flexible Unpaid Parental Leave" system since May 9, 2023, allowing leave to be taken on a day-by-day basis to help parents cope with unexpected childcare needs. By the end of the year, 89 companies participated, but only 24 actually applied for leave, resulting in a total of 212 leave instances, with an average leave duration of less than three days. Companies reported that the application process is cumbersome and that making staffing adjustments is challenging, which affects their willingness to use the system. The Ministry of Labor is collecting feedback and considering a redesign of the system.

05/07 13:02

The Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party's proposal to remove the budget for Taipower's subsidies has ignited a political battle: The Democratic Progressive Party is concerned about rising electricity prices, while the Taiwan People's Party criticizes the energy policy for its mistakes.

The Executive Yuan proposed a special bill amounting to 410 billion NT dollars, and the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party proposed to remove the 100 billion NT dollar allocation for Taipower, sparking a debate between the ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Progressive Party criticized this move, claiming it would lead to an increase in electricity prices, affecting small and medium-sized enterprises and the general economy, and accused the opposition of broadly distributing cash, which does not contribute to industrial transformation. The Taiwan People's Party countered, arguing that the pressure on electricity prices is due to flawed energy policies, and advocated for reforms in nuclear and green energy policies to resolve Taipower's deficit problems.

05/07 09:03

William Lai proposed five major policies ahead of Mother's Day: focusing on childcare, youth development, and developing the nursing workforce.

President William Lai proposed five major policies at the Democratic Progressive Party's Central Executive Committee meeting on May 7, focusing on family care, youth development, and the medical workforce. The policies include strengthening social investment, promoting parental leave and subsidies, enhancing childcare services, passing the draft of the "Youth Basic Law," and initiating an NT$275 billion nursing workforce plan, along with advocating for the legal establishment of nurse-to-patient ratios. These measures aim to meet the needs of modern families, support the next generation, and strengthen the care system.

05/06 11:06

The cabinet of Cho Jung-tai is under pressure for a reshuffle—the heads of five ministries may be replaced; the formation of a combat cabinet is imminent.

Premier Cho Jung-tai's cabinet is facing pressure for a reshuffle, with rumors suggesting the government will transform into a "war cabinet" to address the nationwide recall election and legislative by-elections. Five ministers, including Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Chih-hui, have been named as possible candidates for replacement. The Executive Yuan clarified that the reshuffle rumors are false, but public pressure continues to rise. The "Apple Poll" is open for voting to gauge public satisfaction with governance and opinions on the potential reshuffle. The poll is open until 3 PM on May 9.

05/05 11:30

The Executive Yuan denies rumors of a cabinet reshuffle under Lai Ching-te, stating it is focused on addressing international challenges.

Media reports suggest that Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te might conduct a cabinet reorganization after May 20, involving several heads of ministries, which has drawn attention. Cabinet spokesperson Li Hui-chih dismissed this rumor on May 5, calling it misinformation and emphasizing that there are no plans for such a reorganization. The Cabinet is currently focused on addressing the impact of U.S. tariffs and international developments on Taiwan, and is promoting a special act on economic, social, and national security resilience to stabilize the situation.

05/05 03:06

The Mayor of Taipei, Chiang Wan-an, Leads in Online Presence: Calls on the Government to Address High Tariffs from the US and Internal Challenges

In April 2025, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an had the highest online visibility among county and city leaders in Taiwan and became a political focal point due to his shift from a moderate to a more hardline stance. He openly criticized the Democratic Progressive Party in the city council and urged the government to tackle the high tariffs imposed by the United States and domestic challenges, and called for an end to political infighting. Chiang Wan-an emphasized that his words and actions reflect the opinions of the grassroots and expressed support for Kuomintang legislators facing recall efforts, and urged the central government to focus on livelihood issues.

05/04 13:01

Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu reaffirmed the economic slogan at the labor appreciation event, highlighting the crucial role of labor in Taiwan's economy.

On May 4, 2025, President of the Legislative Yuan Han Kuo-yu attended the National Labor Union Federation's "2025 Model Worker Commendation Conference" in Taipei, emphasizing the reliance of Taiwan's economy on the hard work of its labor force and urging the government to focus on the labor needs of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as traditional industries. He reiterated the economic slogan, "Goods must be exported, and people must be welcomed," and highlighted the pressure U.S. tariffs place on Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises, urging the government to offer more support to tackle international trade challenges.

Graded Task Assignment System: Lowering Barriers, Enhancing Efficiency

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's plan, Long-term Care 3.0 will introduce a "caregiver grading system," classifying and assigning tasks based on caregivers' abilities and the nature of services. Services will be divided into two main categories: "physical care" and "non-physical care." The former includes physically demanding tasks such as assisting with bathing and turning, while the latter includes lighter services such as companionship, meal delivery, and shopping assistance. This initiative aims to reduce the physical demands on caregivers, attract middle-aged and older individuals, and expand the labor pool.

Chu Jianfang, Director of the Long-term Care Department at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pointed out that local governments and private organizations will be advised to assign tasks based on caregivers' abilities. Through the "graded assignment" mechanism, service efficiency and manpower flexibility will be improved. This system will also be paired with relaxed regulations for mid-level technical personnel to enter small-scale multifunctional long-term care facilities and group home services. Additionally, there will be considerations for including part-time personnel in the calculation of institutional staffing standards to enhance nighttime care capabilities in residential institutions.

Recruitment of Middle-aged and Older Workforce and Salary Improvement

As of 2023, each caregiver needs to serve an average of 10.8 cases, far exceeding a reasonable load. The Long-term Care 3.0 policy clearly views middle-aged and older individuals as potential labor sources. The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that it will combine resources from the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education to promote employment plans for middle-aged individuals and women, providing training and professional development opportunities for caregivers.

However, legislator Lin Yueqin pointed out that although the number of home care workers has exceeded 100,000, the aging workforce structure and unchanged conditions remain concerns. She emphasized that long-term care payment standards have not been adjusted in eight years, disconnected from the increase in basic wages, leading to high turnover rates among caregivers and difficulty in stabilizing the workforce. In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare promised to improve the salary structure and reduce the physical and mental burden on caregivers by introducing assistive devices and smart technology, enhancing job attractiveness.

Introduction of Assistive Devices and Smart Technology: Reducing Caregiving Pressure

Long-term Care 3.0 will also actively introduce smart care and assistive device subsidy programs. The Ministry of Health and Welfare pointed out that technological assistance can effectively reduce the pressure on caregivers in high physical load tasks such as lifting and turning, and improve service quality and safety. These measures not only help retain existing manpower but are also expected to attract more young and middle-aged individuals to join the caregiving field.

Expanding Service Recipients: Inclusion of Early-Onset Dementia and Stroke Patients

Long-term Care 3.0 will relax the age restrictions for service recipients, including patients under 50 with early-onset dementia and stroke patients under 65. According to statistics, there are over 14,000 early-onset dementia patients in Taiwan, who face significant life and psychological changes while still functional. Early intervention in the long-term care system can effectively alleviate the burden on family caregivers. Stroke patients who remain disabled after acute phase integrated care (PAC) can also directly connect to long-term care services without age restrictions.

Assessing System Gaps: The Dilemma of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Patients

As the system expands, issues with the integration of evaluation mechanisms are gradually emerging. Legislator Lin Yueqin pointed out a recent case of an osteogenesis imperfecta patient who, despite passing the physical and mental disability assessment (ICF), failed to pass the care management assessment scale (CMS), resulting in the inability to use long-term care services. This case highlights the discrepancies between the disability and long-term care assessment systems, causing repeated assessments and inconsistent results, affecting service connection and resource utilization.

In response, Chu Jianfang stated that disability assessments cover multiple aspects such as education, employment, medical care, and support, while long-term care assessments focus on the degree of disability and care needs. For example, in osteogenesis imperfecta, patients may develop the condition at different ages, and the disease progression varies. If the condition progresses to meet long-term care assessment criteria, they can transition into the long-term care system. Before that, they can use disability-related resources. She also noted that the Ministry of Health and Welfare will explore developing a "translation mechanism for assessment results" to reduce repeated assessments and system disconnections.

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