The draft amendment of the Long-Term Care Act proposed by the Executive Yuan is currently under review at the Legislature. However, many civil groups have been holding press conferences to express their concern over the plan, which does not cover all disabled individuals.

In response, DOH minister Chiu Wen-da said that the legislature will discuss the act article by article, to ensure the quality of the service for the public.

72-year old Mr. Chen is a family caretaker. His wife suffered a stroke over a decade ago, and the right side of her body has been paralyzed ever since.

Although the family has a domestic helper, the role of caretaker falls on Chen on the helper's day off.

The Legislative Yuan is currently reviewing a draft of the Long-Term Care Service Act.

Civic groups feel that the Cabinet's version of the draft fails to take into account Taiwan's 640,000 disabled people that are being cared for by family members or clearly define the status of Taiwan's 180,000 foreign caretakers.

The groups say that a comprehensive long-term care system cannot be developed without public participation and policy channels, and that such a system needs to include dispute resolution mechanisms and measures to protect individuals' rights.

In response, Health Minister Chiu Wen-da says that every article of the draft will be reviewed at length.