TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) announced on Wednesday (Jan. 14) a policy to open hospitals to foreign mid-level technical workers as caregivers, aiming for a "win-win-win" situation for families, patients, and nurses. The policy seeks to expand service from 5,000 to 30,000 beds, addressing caregiver shortages in hospitals.
Shih said the Ministry of Health and Welfare (衛福部) has proposed revisions to the Ministry of Labor (勞動部) to allow hospitals to hire foreign caregivers. This initiative aims to support the daily care needs of acute inpatients and reduce the workload of nursing staff. However, groups such as the Taiwan Nurses Union (台灣護理產業工會) and the Taiwan Federation of Medical Unions (台灣醫療工會聯合會) expressed opposition, questioning the communication and management responsibilities.
Shih clarified that the target group consists of mid-level technical personnel who have worked in Taiwan for over six years, possess language skills, and have caregiver training, not "foreign newcomers." Three years ago, the Ministry of Health and Welfare launched a pilot program for integrated inpatient care, allowing hospitals to hire and train caregivers. Shih noted positive public feedback, emphasizing that this system enables nurses to focus on their professional duties.
Families could pay approximately NT$750 to NT$1,000 daily for caregiver services, eliminating the need for constant bedside presence or private hiring. Shih highlighted that last year, only about 110 hospitals participated in the pilot, covering around 5,000 beds, leaving room for improvement compared to the 70,000 acute general hospital beds nationwide.