Ministry of Health and Welfare (Taiwan)

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) (Chinese: 衛生福利部; pinyin: Wèishēng Fúlì Bù; formerly the Department of Health) is the principal governmental agency of Taiwan responsible for overseeing public health, social welfare, food safety, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other related matters. The MOHW is led by a Minister and has several subordinate agencies responsible for specific areas.

The MOHW's mission includes promoting public health and disease prevention, ensuring access to healthcare services, protecting vulnerable populations, and fostering social welfare programs. It plays a crucial role in developing and implementing health policies, regulating the healthcare industry, and managing social security programs such as national health insurance.

Key responsibilities of the MOHW include:

• Overseeing the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), which manages the universal health insurance system.
• Regulating food and drug safety.
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic diseases.
• Protecting the rights of patients and vulnerable populations.
• Providing social welfare services such as child care, elderly care, and disability support.
• Responding to public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks.
• Collecting and analyzing health statistics.

The MOHW works closely with other government agencies, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to achieve its goals. It also collaborates with international organizations to address global health challenges.