Taipei: The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has introduced free, rapid syphilis testing for individuals under the age of 24 in response to an increase in syphilis cases among youth.

According to Focus Taiwan, the initiative, which started on July 1, is available at 13 hospitals throughout the country. Participating hospitals include Taipei City Hospital and Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taipei; Taoyuan General Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan; Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital in Hsinchu City; and Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in Taichung County.

The program also includes National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Chi Mei Hospital in Tainan, as well as Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital, and Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital in Kaohsiung, as stated by the CDC.

Chan Pei-chun, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Chronic Infectious Disease, highlighted at a news conference the consistent rise in reported syphilis cases among individuals aged 13 to 24 over the past four years. She noted that 4,912 syphilis cases were reported nationwide in the first half of 2025, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year's 4,635 cases. Among the 13 to 24 age group, 956 cases were recorded from January to June, representing a 13 percent year-on-year rise.

In 2024, the same age group accounted for 1,773 cases, showing a 19 percent surge from 1,490 cases in 2023. In contrast, the number of reported HIV and gonorrhea cases has decreased, with 438 new HIV cases recorded from January to June, down from 508, and gonorrhea cases falling from 3,754 to 3,048.

CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Lo Yi-chun explained that there is no deadline or quota for the free syphilis testing program. He emphasized the importance of treating syphilis, which can lead to neurological complications if untreated. Lo also mentioned that individuals seeking free testing at any of the 13 participating hospitals are not required to present a National Health Insurance card.