Article 5 Measures to Safeguard Various Rights 105. The NHRC applauds the government’s efforts to address health inequities among indigenous peoples, including its implementation of the three-year Indigenous Village Health Inequity Improvement Strategy Action Plan, which aims to improve the quality of life of indigenous peoples and reduce health inequities.130 The number of cultural health stations in indigenous areas and the amount of funding for the stations have both increased significantly. In addition, the Legislative Yuan passed the Indigenous Peoples Health Act in 2023, which stipulates that dedicated units should be established to handle the health care of indigenous peoples, including surveying the health status of indigenous peoples on a regular basis, establishing a health database, and training health care workers for indigenous peoples to meet their special health needs. 106. The NHRC notes that indigenous peoples’ health indicators still fall short of the national level: (1) The age-standardized mortality rate per 100,000 population in 2020 was 659.1 for indigenous peoples, 1.69 times higher than the national rate of 390.8.131 (2) From 2018 to 2022, over 97% of indigenous pregnant women had at least four prenatal check-ups; however, the infant mortality rate of indigenous peoples is generally 2.9% above the national level, with no significant decline.132 (3) The average life expectancy of indigenous peoples in 2021 was 73.92 years, a 6.94 years below overall life expectancy in Taiwan. The government has §§203-205 of the national report 130 131 132 Council of Indigenous Peoples (2023, January). Annual Report on Health Statistics of Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan , 2. Council of Indigenous Peoples (2023, January). Annual Report on Health Statistics of Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan and information provided during the NHRC’s government agency meeting held on February 9, 2023. 75