The 83rd Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Public Health

Session information

Public Symposium

Reproductive Governance and Societal Impacts of Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Comparison Between Taiwan and Japan

Tue. Oct 29, 2024 1:10 PM - 2:45 PM Venue8 (206, Sapporo Convention Center)

Chair:Eri Maeda, Lee Pei-Chen(National Cheng Kung University) designated speaker:Huang Yu-Ling(National Cheng Kung University), Seung Chik Jwa(Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University)

Japan is one of the countries with the highest rates of use of assisted reproductive
technology (ART), with approximately 69,000 births resulting from ART in 2021. The
declining birthrate has led to an increasing impact of ART on population and society, with coverage by health insurance introduced in 2022. The establishment of ART in society has been supported by continuous monitoring by the Reproductive Registry, which is managed and operated by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Taiwan's socio-cultural background is similar to that of Japan, and as a result, the total fertility rate has remained at a very low level of around 1.0. In response to the declining birthrate, the subsidy system for ART has been enhanced, and monitoring is being carried out using the ART Database, which is managed and operated by the Taiwanese government. Furthermore, research is being conducted in conjunction with large-scale national databases, including the national health insurance, birth registration, and maternal and child health information databases. This symposium will include lectures on the role of registries in supporting the development of ART in both countries, as well as the latest situation in Taiwan regarding the use of national databases.
Additionally, a discussion will be held on the implications of new forms of family formation through ART. In Japan, the legislation regarding third-party reproduction has lagged behind, and many Japanese couples are travelling to Taiwan for treatment using donated sperm and eggs. However, in Western countries, donated sperm and eggs are not only used to treat infertile heterosexual couples. They are also used as a means of having a family for all those who need treatment, regardless of their sexuality or marital status. In Taiwan, the first country in East Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019, there is currently a movement towards amending the Assisted Reproduction Law so that same-sex couples and single women can receive ART in Taiwan. Additionally, there is a debate about the manner in which donated eggs and sperm have been provided anonymously.
This symposium aims to share with participants a new perspective on ART in
neighbouring countries, from database research to new forms of family. The symposium will be conducted in English, with slides in both Japanese and English. We would be delighted to discuss this with as many people as possible.