(1) The competent authority has introduced a project subsidy mechanism to assist persons with disabilities in applying for subsidies for medical aids. However, only one application was approved for a project subsidy at the local level between 2016 and 2019.77 Because the CRPD Second Report concludes that persons with disabilities are able to bear the maintenance and adjustment fees within the minimum subsidization duration and warranty period, the NHRC has sent a written inquiry to the MOHW for an explanation of how the financial capacity of persons with disabilities is assessed. The MOHW prioritizes resource utilization over the actual needs of persons with disabilities.78 (2) The MOHW has set up a rental system for costly medical aids, claiming that the system can effectively meet special needs. In actuality, the effectiveness of the system remains to be seen. The NHRC sent a written inquiry to the MOHW for the relevant information and found significant inconsistencies in the application review standards of local governments. The NHRC also found that between 2016 and 2019, the various cities and counties only granted subsidies for CPAP and BIPAP machines. Only two applications for CPAP subsidies were approved between 2016 and 2019. Most applications for BIPAP rentals are concentrated in only a few cities and counties. Most cities and counties only received a handful of applications, with many not receiving any. The inferior performance of the rental system is made evident by the small number of approvals. The NHRC recommends actively investigating the reasons for this lackluster performance and formulating improvement measures. Article 21: Freedom of expression and opinion and access to information A. Promotion and interpreting in Taiwan Sign Language 93. 77 78 The number of sign language interpreters and simultaneous transcribers gradually Including “within minimum duration of use,” “exceeding four devices within a two-year period,” and “ineligible persons who need assistive devices” The MOHW responded to the NHRC stating, “Due to limited resources, subsidies are granted primarily for the procurement or rental of medical aids. Our aim is to benefit as many people as possible with a limited budget. Adding maintenance and adjustment fees to the scope of subsidization would inevitably spread already-strained resources too thinly. 64