Regarding the query on whether the regulations for medical institution diagnosis certificates can be relaxed due to the severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic for teachers applying for extended sick leave due to pregnancy maintenance.

Explanation:
1. In accordance with the Ministry of Education's letter Tai-Jiao-Ren (III) No. 1100129676 dated October 12, 110 (2021), and attached is a copy of the original letter.
2. Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Regulations for Teachers' Leave stipulates: "Teachers' leave shall be handled in accordance with the following regulations: ... II. ... For those who require rest for pregnancy maintenance as diagnosed by a physician, sick leave may be granted during the period of rest, with a maximum of 28 days per academic year; if the period exceeds the prescribed days, it shall be offset by personal leave, and handled in accordance with the following regulations: ... (II) ... For those who require leave for rest due to pregnancy maintenance as diagnosed by a physician, after exhausting the sick leave, personal leave, and vacation days granted in accordance with regulations, they may be extended with the approval of the school; ..."

3. Re-examination of the Ministry of Education's letter Tai-Ren (II) No. 0950091878 dated July 12, 95 (2006) states that the regulations regarding medical institution certificates required for extended sick leave under the Regulations for Teachers' Leave shall be based on certificates issued by National Health Insurance contracted hospitals with comprehensive medical facilities and equivalent to the level of original public insurance contracted hospitals and public insurance joint outpatient centers. However, if the township where the institution is located and where the teacher resides does not have the aforementioned medical institutions, certificates issued by the local health center and National Health Insurance contracted clinics may be accepted; if the township where the institution is located and where the teacher resides does not have any of the aforementioned medical institutions, a diagnosis certificate issued by a qualified physician may be used as proof.
4. If a teacher requires extended sick leave due to pregnancy maintenance, they should submit a medical certificate issued by a National Health Insurance contracted hospital with comprehensive medical facilities and equivalent to the level of original public insurance contracted hospitals and public insurance joint outpatient centers, as per the Ministry of Education's letter dated July 12, 95 (2006), for the school to consider the leave application. However, considering the epidemic period, to reduce the risk of epidemic transmission and alleviate the medical burden on National Health Insurance contracted hospitals, it is agreed that before the end of the COVID-19 epidemic, if a teacher encounters a situation requiring rest for pregnancy maintenance as stipulated in Article 3, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Regulations for Teachers' Leave and requires extended sick leave, a diagnosis certificate issued by a National Health Insurance contracted clinic may be used as proof for applying for extended sick leave; if the township where the school is located and where the teacher resides does not have the aforementioned medical institutions, a diagnosis certificate issued by a qualified physician may be used as proof.
5. The term "end of the epidemic" as mentioned above, according to the Ministry of Education's letter Tai-Jiao-Ren (III) No. 1100095272 dated July 20, 110 (2021), refers to the date of dissolution of the COVID-19 Central Epidemic Command Center, which is hereby noted.
以事假抵銷，並依下列規定辦理：……（二）……因安胎
經醫師診斷確有需要請假休養者，於依規定核給之病假、
事假及休假均請畢後，經學校核准得延長之；……。」

三、復查教育部95年7月12日台人（二）字第0950091878號函釋
略以，教師請假規則有關延長病假應檢具之醫療機構證明
書之規定，仍以具有完善醫療設備，與原公保特約醫院及
公保聯合門診中心層級相當之健保特約醫院及中央健康保
險局聯合門診中心出具之證明為準據，惟如其任職機關及
居住所所在地之鄉鎮未設有上開醫療機構，則當地衛生所
及全民健保特約診所出具之證明仍可採據；若其任職機關
及居住所所在地之鄉鎮未設有上列任一醫療機構，則得以
合格醫師開立之診斷證明書作為證明。

四、按教師倘因安胎而有申請延長病假之需要，應依前開教育
部95年7月12日函釋規定檢附具有完善醫療設備，與原公保
特約醫院及公保聯合門診中心層級相當之健保特約醫院及
中央健康保險局聯合門診中心出具之醫療證明供學校作為
核假之參考；惟考量疫情期間，為降低疫情傳播風險及減
少全民健康保險特約醫院之醫療負擔，同意教師於COVID-
19疫情結束前，倘遇教師請假規則第3條第1項第2款所定安
胎休養情事，而有申請延長病假之需求，得以全民健康保
險特約診所出具之診斷證明書作為申請延長病假之證明；
至如其任職學校及居住所所在地之鄉鎮未設有上開醫療機
構，則得以合格醫師開立之診斷證明書作為證明。

五、前開所稱「疫情結束」，依教育部110年7月20日臺教人
（三）字第1100095272號函示，係指COVID-19中央流行疫
情指揮中心解散之日，併敘。