Facing a declining birth rate and aging population, Taiwan looks to Japan’s advanced home medical care system as a model. In 2017, at the Taiwan Society of Home Health Care (TSOHHC) founding conference, Dr. Hirotoshi Maeda shared Japan’s all-age home care approach. Supported by TSOHHC President Dr. Sang-Ju Yu, Taiwanese professionals visited Japan multiple times and attended the Japanese Pediatric Home Medical Care Conference in 2023 and 2024 for deeper exchange. By September 2024, Taiwan professionals had formed a shared vision to adapt Japan’s experience to Taiwan, advocating policies to support children with medical and daily care needs and aiming to build a child-focused, family-centered care system with comprehensive and integrated support.

The association was officially established on March 15, 2025, uniting professionals dedicated to advancing care, education, and development for children with medical and daily needs and their families.

The name using “360” reflects a holistic mission to promote these children’s well-being, health, caregiving, education, daily living, and social inclusion through a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-community approach. 

Every child is a vital asset to Taiwan. Better care for children with medical and daily needs strengthens families and society alike. By building inclusive, responsive care systems, we strive to ensure every child and family receives the support, dignity, and opportunities they deserve.

The association unites healthcare professionals, caregivers, and related organizations to advocate for and enhance various support systems and resources for children with medical and daily care needs and their families. Initiatives are promoted and implemented in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Academic

Organize domestic and international conferences and exchange activities.

Education

Provide caregiver training and consultation services, promote the Integrated Health Program (IHP), and support age-appropriate rehabilitation, recovery, and empowerment for children under 18 with medical and daily care needs.

Policy

Advocate for policies related to children with medical and daily care needs, such as improving caregiver workforce, enhancing institutional services, developing various respite care models, and expanding coverage and reimbursement items.

Outreach

Facilitate the connection of various resources for children with medical and daily care needs and their families.

Collaboration

Offer a platform for professional development and exchange, promoting cooperation and advancement across related fields.

Advances in medicine have greatly improved survival rates for children with medical and daily care needs. The challenge now is integrating resources to support their optimal physical and mental development. These children are also individuals with disabilities, so the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guide our efforts. Both address key rights such as best interests of child, the rights to live, health, protection, development, and participation. We are committed to advocating for and safeguarding these rights to secure a better future for Taiwan’s next generation. 

The Taiwan Children with Medical Needs 360 Development Association held its inaugural meeting on March 15, 2025. During the meeting, members elected the first Board of Directors and Supervisors. Dr. Frank Leigh Lu, Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, was elected as the first President. Dr. Tsung-Hsien Ho, Deputy Superintendent of Douliu Branch, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, and Dr. Sang-Ju Yu, Honorary President of the Taiwan Society of Home Health Care, were elected as Executive Directors. Ms. Li-Man Lin, Head Nurse of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Mackay Memorial Hospital, was elected as Executive Supervisor. And Ms. Ling-Ling Yang, a respiratory therapist and Director of Ho-Kang Respiratory Home Care Agency, was appointed as the Secretary-General.

Advances in medical technology and social welfare have enabled more children with medical and daily care needs to return home stably and attend school. 

These children often rely on devices like nasogastric tubes, gastrostomies, oxygen therapy, tracheostomies, or ventilators, requiring ongoing care such as stoma management, repositioning, tube feeding, suctioning, and emergency support. 

Based on data from the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 children aged 0 to 18 in Taiwan belong to this category (see table below).