Taichung City Boosts Chronic Disease Prevention Network, Increases Subsidies for Elderly Health Checks

Taichung City Health Bureau Director Tseng Tzu-chan today presented a special report at the city council meeting titled "Connecting with Healthy Taiwan 888: Building Taichung City's Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Protection Network." He stated that in addition to the central government's existing subsidies for adult health checks, the Taichung City Government has further subsidized "Senior Citizen Health Checks" for citizens aged 65 and above.

Tseng Tzu-chan explained that the city government's subsidized senior citizen health check items, in addition to chest X-rays, electrocardiograms, fecal occult blood tests, and dementia screening scales, last year added glycated hemoglobin, albumin, and blood urea nitrogen tests. In the past five years, the number of people screened has grown from 26,437 in 2021 to 40,851 in 2025.

Tseng Tzu-chan also mentioned that last year, the "Star Burn Project" was held, inviting citizens to participate in a weight loss competition with a total prize of NT$1.2 million. A total of 27,786 people participated, and 8,094 successfully lost weight, shedding a total of 45,108 kilograms.

Looking ahead, Tseng Tzu-chan said that the central government's "888 policy" will be implemented, including achieving an 80% case enrollment rate, 80% lifestyle counseling, and 80% control rate, to truly achieve the goal of "screening to find, intervening, and improving."

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated that to maintain everyone's health, the city government promotes many health maintenance efforts. Citizens' utilization rate of government-subsidized health checks ranks among the top in the six major municipalities, but there is a lot of information to remember. The Taichung City Health Bureau has health centers in various districts to provide health care for citizens, where they can inquire nearby, and she hopes everyone will make full use of them.

Lu Shiow-yen said that the city government's universal weight loss program launched last year was very popular, with nearly 30,000 citizens signing up, meaning one in every hundred people registered, achieving excellent results, with nearly one-third reaching their weight loss goals. Many citizens hope for an earlier start; unlike last year's event in July, this year's event will be held earlier. (Edited by Chang Ming-kun) 1150407