TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday announced plans to establish a Children and Families Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare to strengthen government support for children, youth, and families.
Lai made the remarks at the Healthy Taiwan Sustainability Forum at National Taiwan University Hospital. He said the new agency would help improve coordination across ministries and better address gaps in child and youth services, per CNA.
Lai, a physician by training, has made healthcare a central pillar of his administration, promoting policies aimed at improving life expectancy and stabilizing the National Health Insurance system. He has also highlighted a nationwide shortage of pediatricians, saying the new agency will be better positioned to respond to long-term staffing and service needs.
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said the new body would allow for a more integrated approach to child protection, youth development, and family services. He added that a draft bill establishing the agency is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet before the end of the year.
Three NGOs — the Child Health Alliance Taiwan, the Action Alliance on Basic Education, and the National Alliance of Women and Children Organization — issued a joint statement welcoming the initiative. They said they look forward to child welfare, youth care, and family support being more fully incorporated into national policy.
The groups also praised recent government investments in pediatric care, youth services, and mental health programs. Wang Han-yang (王瀚陽), chair of the Action Alliance on Basic Education, said long-standing structural issues have left Taiwan with fragmented child and youth policies. He called the new agency a starting point toward a future Ministry of Children, Youth, and Family Affairs.
The coalition urged the government to provide comprehensive support spanning pregnancy and childbirth, care for children ages 0–6, school-age protection, mental and physical health services, and assistance for youth and families. They said these services should be integrated into a community-based support network.
