not yet collected the statistics on average life expectancy in individual villages and townships. (4) According to the Healthy People 2020, the transition from living in a tribal society to a modern society has put indigenous peoples under enormous stress. The stress they bear includes the disintegration of traditional culture, displacement, and unstable sources of income, and turning to alcohol is a common result.133 According to the government’s 2013 National Health Interview Survey, the percentage of indigenous adults who chewed betel nut was 26.7%, higher than the national figure of 5.8%; the adult drinking rate was 65.2%, also higher than the national figure of 45.7%. The 2015 Adult Smoking Behavior Survey also showed that 27.6% of indigenous adults smoked, which was higher than the national figure of 17.1%.134 107. In 2020, there were 22.57 practicing physicians per 10,000 population in indigenous areas and only 7.43 physicians per 10,000 population in mountainous areas,135 which fell short of the national level of 31.3 physicians per 10,000 population. 136 In addition, the NHRC notes that according to Control Yuan investigation report, the Medical Personnel Training Program for Indigenous and Outlying Island Regions trained 1,192 publicly funded medical students from its implementation in 1969 to the year 2020. The publicly funded physicians trained under the program have, to a certain extent, reduced the shortage of manpower in indigenous and outlying island regions, with more than 70% of the trained physicians remaining in 133 134 135 136 76 Department of Health, Executive Yuan (2009, May). Healthy People 2020, 240. Ministry of Health and Welfare (2018, July). 2025 White Paper on Health and Welfare Policy—Chapter on Indigenous Peoples, 306-307. Phase 5 (2022-2026) of the Medical Personnel Training Program for Indigenous and Outlying Island Regions. Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare (2021, Nov 11). Doctor’s Day Bulletin on Health and Welfare Statistics .