Taipei: The Legislative Yuan has approved a significant reorganization of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), resulting in the creation of two new agencies and two government-funded administrative institutions.
According to Focus Taiwan, this move marks the ministry's first major structural overhaul since it was established in 2013. The changes aim to place greater emphasis on children's health, healthcare issues, long-term care, and traditional Chinese medicine. The Legislature's amendments have led to the dissolution of the existing Social and Family Affairs Administration, dividing its responsibilities between the new Administration of Children, Youth and Family Support and the new Administration of Social Development and Long-term Care.
The new Administration of Children, Youth and Family Support will manage policies and programs related to childcare, early intervention services, child and youth welfare and rights, family support services, and pediatric healthcare. Meanwhile, the Social Development and Long-term Care Administration will handle policies for senior citizens, people with disabilities, long-term care services, and the National Pension program.
The Executive Yuan initially approved the amendments to the Organic Act of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and related acts in December 2025, highlighting the necessity to address Taiwan's declining birthrate and aging population. This Tuesday, lawmakers also passed legislation to establish two administrative institutions under the MOHW: the National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Center for Health Technology Assessment.
The National Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be formed by transforming the existing National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine into an administrative corporation. This new agency will have an expanded mandate to advance traditional Chinese medicine research, promote precision clinical applications, and enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan's traditional medicine industry. The National Center for Health Technology Assessment will focus on evaluating emerging medical technologies and pharmaceuticals to support evidence-based reimbursement decisions and improve healthcare resource allocation efficiency.
The Legislature also passed non-binding resolutions urging the MOHW to elevate its women's welfare unit to department-level status and increase staffing and funding for women's affairs. Additionally, lawmakers recommended renaming the ministry's Department of Nursing and Health Care to the Department of Nursing and Indigenous Health Care to emphasize Indigenous health.