From July 1, Taiwan will offer six developmental screenings for children under seven to identify and address developmental delays early. Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced the initiative on Tuesday, which aims to enhance child health care during critical growth stages, particularly before age three.
Minister Chiu says the initiative aligns with President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) healthcare policy to optimize pediatric care. The screenings will be conducted by trained pediatricians and family doctors, focusing on gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language cognition, and social development. If delays are detected, children will be referred for further assessment and intervention.
The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) has developed a child development screening model based on recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local experts. The HPA is funding 85 Child Development Centers nationwide and adding support to 10 more centers to ensure timely and effective help for children with developmental delays. Parents can bring their child’s health insurance card to nearby clinics for screenings.