Oral Health Act

This Act is enacted for the promotion and protection of national oral health. Matters not regulated by this Act shall be governed by the provisions of other applicable laws.

The term “competent authorities” as used in this Act refer to the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central level; the municipality governments at the municipal level; and the county/city governments at the county/city level. Matters stipulated in this Act that fall within the jurisdiction of various authorities shall be administered by the respective competent authorities.

The government shall formulate and implement measures for oral disease prevention and oral health care, as well as carry out tasks related to oral health as follows: 1. Conduct surveys on the oral health of citizens; 2. Promote preventive oral medicine; 3. Implement oral health education programs; 4. Establish supervision and implement improvements for oral health products; 5. Conduct research and studies on oral health and related issues; 6. Conduct surveys and research on oral health risk factors, and formulate and implement policies for the prevention of such risk factors; 7. Conduct research on the correlation between oral health and overall health; 8. Other matters pertaining to the promotion of oral health. Medical treatment for oral diseases shall be included in the National Health Insurance coverage, with the scope of benefits governed in accordance with the National Health Insurance Act.

The competent authorities and relevant authorities shall allocate budgets annually for the implementation of initiatives aimed at controlling oral health risk factors, promoting oral health and oral health education, and advancing preventive measures.

The competent authorities shall actively implement the preventive and control measures for oral health risk factors, as well as disseminate information regarding oral health risk factors.

Schools of all types at all levels shall enhance the promotion of education regarding oral health and the prevention and control of oral health risk factors, and shall conduct regular oral cavity examinations.

The competent authorities shall ensure the provision of cost-effective oral cancer screening services for high-risk groups, and the authority for labor affairs shall assist in the promotion of such services when conducting occupational health examinations for workers.

When the competent authorities and the authorities for education engage in promoting for oral health education, relevant authorities, schools, associations and organizations, and mass media shall cooperate with the aforementioned authorities in implementing such initiatives.

The competent authorities at the municipality and county/city levels shall enhance the promotion of oral health care measures and the control of oral health risk factors for the following groups: 1. The elderly and people with disabilities; 2. Pregnant women, infants, young children, children, and adolescents; 3. High-risk groups for oral cancer.

The competent authorities shall allocate budgets for surveys and research on oral health and associated risk factors, and may delegate or subsidize relevant authorities, educational institutions, or professional oral health organizations to implement such surveys and research. The central competent authority shall prepare and provide a report on the national oral health survey and research every six years, which shall be made publicly available as a reference for promoting oral health initiatives.

The competent authorities at the municipality and county/city levels shall designate responsible personnel, while the central competent authorities shall establish a dedicated unit to manage matters related to oral health.

The central competent authority shall establish an Oral Medicine Committee with tasks as follows: 1. Draft and propose oral health policies; 2. Review epidemiological surveys on oral diseases; 3. Review oral disease prevention measures; 4. Review the initiatives for the promotion of oral health education; 5. Review the initiatives for the promotion of oral health care for pregnant women and infants; 6. Review the initiatives for the promotion of oral health care for the elderly and people with disabilities; 7. Provide consultation on the promotion of oral health care for school children; 8. Review risk factors for oral cancer and other oral health risk factors; 9. Provide consultation on the standards and efficacy of oral health products; 10. Review matters concerning research and development in oral health; 11. Review other matters related to oral health care. The Competent Authority shall determine the number of members, composition, meeting procedures, and other matters related to the organization and powers of the aforementioned Committee.

This Act shall take into force from the date of promulgation.