TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Medical laboratory professionals in Taiwan are raising alarms over a crisis of exhaustion and overwork that threatens to compromise patient care across the island's healthcare system. The Taiwan Medical Laboratory Scientists Union (TMLS, 台灣醫事檢驗產業工會) spearheaded a coalition of healthcare worker organizations on Friday (April 11) in a public appeal for systemic reforms at Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, the island's parliament, warning that burnout among lab technicians is increasingly jeopardizing the accuracy of crucial diagnostic testing.
Hsu Hung-chieh (徐宏杰), executive director of the laboratory scientists union, presented alarming statistics showing that more than 60% of medical technologists process upwards of 100 patient samples each day while simultaneously juggling administrative responsibilities. These conditions have precipitated a marked decline in workplace quality, according to Hsu. He advocated for a prescription-based staffing model, similar to standards used for pharmacists, recommending that Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration (健保署) withhold payment for testing services when prescription volumes surpass 50 without adequate staffing.
Chu Hsiu-chun (朱修儁), who leads the respiratory therapy union, criticized existing healthcare regulations for failing to recognize the critical need for respiratory specialists in both general hospital wards and emergency settings. Chu called for explicit regulatory requirements mandating respiratory therapist staffing in these areas. His concerns found support from Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿), a legislator representing the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), a centrist political party founded in 2019. Chen pressed Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) to launch a comprehensive policy review that meaningfully incorporates frontline healthcare workers' perspectives.
Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴), a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's current governing party, framed the issue as extending beyond mere workforce management to fundamentally impact patient outcomes and healthcare standards. Lin advocated for substantive legal reforms designed to safeguard both the professional integrity and workplace rights of Taiwan's healthcare practitioners, suggesting that the current situation requires formal legislative intervention rather than administrative adjustments alone. ★