Premier Mao Chi-kuo says that Taiwan must implement a long-term care insurance plan to deal with the country’s aging population.
Addressing the Cabinet Thursday, Mao said that the recently passed Long-term Care Services Act will not be able to take effect without such a plan.
The act will provide more complete service network for the disabled and those suffering from dementia. However, Mao said that there is not sufficient funding to put the act in place. He said that taxpayers and employers will need to share the burden of funding the care plan with the government. Cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun explained on behalf of the premier.
"The government’s current financial situation means that we cannot treat long-term care services as some kind of social welfare completely covered by the government," said Sun. "Therefore, we need a long-term care insurance plan to prop up the care system. There needs to be further discussions to find a balance in how expenses should be shared between the insured, private enterprises and the government," he said.
The health ministry says that Taiwan currently has a shortage of 30,000 caregivers. The ministry said that it will have to use incentives and subsidies to recruit enough caregivers for Taiwan’s aging population.