This Act is hereby enacted for the purpose of promoting the health of indigenous peoples, formulating policies specifically oriented toward the health of indigenous peoples, and resolving health inequities experienced by indigenous peoples.
The formulation of health policies for indigenous peoples shall be carried out with respect for the wishes and independent development of indigenous peoples.

The term “competent authorities” in this Act shall refer to the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central level; the governments of special municipalities at the special municipal level; and the county/city governments at the county/city level.
The central competent authority shall designate dedicated units to handle matters related to the health of indigenous peoples.

If the matters stipulated in this Act involve competent authorities in charge of specific enterprises, they shall cooperate in handling their responsibilities accordingly.

To promote and implement policies related to the health of indigenous peoples, the central competent authority shall select (send) indigenous representatives, representatives from related agencies, and indigenous healthcare experts and scholars to serve on the Health Policy Conference of Indigenous Peoples. The conference shall be convened to achieve the following goals:
1. Consultation and research on policies related to the health of indigenous peoples
2. Consultation on and research into medium- and long-term planning related to the health of indigenous peoples
3. Consultation on and discussion of medical manpower policies for indigenous peoples
4. Consultation on and review of research proposals and implementation plans related to the health of indigenous peoples
5. Promotion of international matters and exchanges related to the health of indigenous peoples
6. Consultation on and review of other matters related to the health of indigenous peoples
The Policy Conference described in the preceding paragraph shall be convened by the minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. No less than one-half of the conference members shall have indigenous identity, and the proportion of different ethnic groups shall be taken into consideration.

Special municipality and county/city competent authorities may convene policy meetings related to the health of indigenous peoples in accordance with the regulations stipulated in the preceding article.
The meetings described in the preceding paragraph shall be convened to achieve the following goals:
1. Planning and promotion related to the health of local indigenous peoples
2. Consultation on and promotion of health coordination matters for local indigenous peoples
3. Promotion of surveys and research into the health of local indigenous peoples
4. Other matters related to the health of local indigenous peoples

The central competent authority shall regularly investigate and study the health status and needs of indigenous peoples in terms of lifestyle, environment, biological factors, and medical resources based on the specific health issues experience by indigenous peoples.
The central competent authority may designate or entrust agencies/institutions, juridical persons, or schools to conduct investigations and research into the health status and health needs of indigenous peoples as described in the preceding paragraph.

The central competent authority shall establish a Health Database of Indigenous Peoples.
The central competent authority may request related agencies to provide the data required to build the database referred to in the preceding paragraph. The agencies may not reject such a request.
The central competent authority shall exercise the due care of a good administrator when handling the data obtained in accordance with the regulations stipulated in the preceding paragraph. The preservation and utilization of data shall be handled in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

The competent authority shall allocate a generous budget for indigenous peoples’ health-related surveys and studies to be conducted in accordance with the regulations stipulated in Article 4; Article 5, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 3; and Article 6, Paragraph 1.

The competent authority shall plan and implement the training, recruitment, and retention of indigenous healthcare workers.
The scope, training, recruitment, retention, rights, and obligations of, and other related matters pertaining to, the workers referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be determined by the central competent authority.

To ensure that medical services are provided in indigenous peoples’ regions reside and to provide a stable supply of indigenous healthcare workers, the central competent authority shall work with the central education authority to determine the needs of indigenous peoples in their regions and reserve additional enrollment slots in healthcare-related departments in colleges and universities for indigenous students to study in accordingly.

The central competent education authority shall encourage healthcare departments in colleges and universities to include cultural safety education on the health affairs of indigenous peoples in their course content.
The term “cultural safety” in the preceding paragraph refers to ensuring that indigenous peoples receive fair and equal access to health care and are provided with appropriate health services that are grounded in indigenous peoples’ knowledge systems and provide adequate protection of indigenous identity and culture.
The guidelines governing the cultural safety courses referred to in Paragraph 1 shall be formulated by the central competent indigenous peoples’ affairs authority and central competent education authority.

Medical institutions, nursing institutions, senior welfare institutions, long-term care institutions, and other healthcare service institutions shall encourage their staff to take courses related to the cultural safety of indigenous peoples in order to improve the quality of services provided to them. Institutions with outstanding performance in this respect shall be rewarded by the central competent authority.

Public healthcare institutions in indigenous peoples’ regions shall give priority to hiring healthcare workers who are indigenous persons or are familiar with the local languages and to providing culturally safe services.

The central competent authority shall conduct research into the traditional medical and healthcare knowledge of indigenous peoples and promote the development of traditional medicine and a healthy lifestyle.
The central competent authority may entrust related agencies/institutions, juridical persons, or groups to conduct the research and promotion referred to in the preceding paragraph.

The competent authority shall actively promote academic and practical exchanges and cooperation on health matters between Taiwan’s indigenous peoples and indigenous peoples/ethnic minorities from other countries.

This Act shall come into effect on the day of promulgation.