TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a sweeping reform aimed at addressing Taiwan's overburdened emergency medical system, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHI, 健保署) on Wednesday (March 12) approved a comprehensive NT$4.2 billion annual funding package set to launch in May. The initiative comes as hospitals across the country struggle with persistent emergency room congestion and healthcare worker shortages that have strained the medical infrastructure.
The ambitious plan targets multiple pressure points in Taiwan's emergency care system, focusing on increased compensation for critical care providers and structural improvements to emergency facilities, particularly in underserved outlying islands. NHI Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) announced that NT$2.497 billion will be specifically allocated toward raising acute general ward nursing fees, a move designed to improve retention rates among increasingly scarce nursing staff.
Emergency physician Chen Liang-fu (陳亮甫) explained that emergency congestion isn't simply a seasonal phenomenon tied to flu and norovirus outbreaks. Instead, he pointed to systemic issues including staffing shortages and poor resource coordination as the root causes. The challenging nature of emergency medicine, with its demanding shift rotations between night and day shifts, has created physically taxing conditions for healthcare workers.
These difficult working conditions have contributed to high burnout rates and staffing shortages that further exacerbate emergency room congestion. The physical toll on medical professionals remains a significant concern as they navigate through demanding schedules and increasing patient loads.
Kao Ching-chiu (高靖秋) of the Taiwan Union of Nurses Association (護理師護士公會全國聯合會) advocated for stronger regulatory oversight, urging the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛服部) to legally mandate appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios across all shifts. This measure would help ensure manageable workloads and improve the quality of life for nursing professionals who form the backbone of Taiwan's healthcare system.
As implementation approaches, healthcare stakeholders across Taiwan express cautious optimism that these comprehensive measures will bring meaningful relief to the emergency care system, improving both working conditions for medical professionals and patient care quality.