[The need for neonatal intensive care in Taiwan: historical perspectives]

Recent vital statistics data reveals that in most of the developed countries the infant mortality has decreased reaching less than 15 per 1000 live births. The major component of this decline has been in neonatal mortality, which has been brought by neonatal intensive care. Presently a steady movement for the development of neonatal intensive care in some of the leading developing countries, including Taiwan area of Republic of China has been noticed. In these countries, however, a question has risen as to priority and justification for developing neonatal intensive care. This stems mostly from relatively high cost and additional health care manpower required for the neonatal intensive care. This communication reviews the evolution of neonatal intensive care in the Western World and with this historic perspective, attempts to access the need of neonatal intensive care in Taiwan area. The results also could be used as a basis for future research and public health policy.