Penghu faces nursing staff shortage; County Government forms strategic alliance with nursing college to address deficit

The Penghu County Government and Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College in Kaohsiung today completed the signing ceremony for a strategic alliance for nursing talent cultivation at the county government's first conference room, with Penghu Deputy County Mayor Lin Chieh-hsing and Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College President Chang Hung-chih signing the agreement and exchanging commemorative gifts. Kuomintang legislator Hsu Kuo-cheng, Democratic Progressive Party legislator Su Yu-te, and independent legislator Su Chen Hsiu-se, along with Health Bureau Director Chen Shu-chuan and the directors of Penghu's three local medical institutions—Tri-Service General Hospital Penghu Branch Director Hu Hsiao-feng, Penghu Hospital Deputy Director Tsai Wen-hsiang, and Huimin Hospital Deputy Director Chao Pai-mei—were present to witness the event. Lin Chieh-hsing stated that since Penghu County Mayor Chen Kuang-fu took office, he has placed great importance on Penghu's medical issues. In response to the increasingly severe shortage of medical personnel in the post-pandemic era, the county government has been promoting the cultivation of nurses since 2023. Currently, it collaborates with six domestic medical and nursing colleges to train 16 public-funded nursing students, but this seems too slow. This year, an alliance with Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College was added. In addition to recruiting new students, a pathway for "self-funded students in school to become public-funded students" was introduced, leveraging the college's profound professional training capabilities to provide the best nurturing environment for Penghu's youth. Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College Chairman Hou Ming-feng stated that Penghu and Kaohsiung have deep cultural and geographical ties, and the college has always felt a sense of gratitude and desire to give back to Penghu. Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College not only has a superior geographical location and convenient transportation, but its national license pass rate for nursing has also consistently remained above 85%, far exceeding the national average. Currently, there are 16 students from Penghu enrolled in the college, and this group of pioneers will be a stable force for future service in their hometown. Penghu Health Bureau Director Chen Shu-chuan pointed out that "localized healthcare" is a policy goal of the county government. Currently, in addition to hiring nearly 60 highly renowned specialist doctors to provide medical care at the level of a medical center for local residents, to address the shortage of nursing staff, 35 public-funded students are being trained in alliance with six domestic medical and nursing colleges. The first batch of 8 public-funded students will return to their hometowns to serve next year. This year, a strategic alliance was signed with Yu Ying Medical and Nursing College. It is expected that after completing their studies and returning to their hometowns to serve, the shortage of nursing staff on the outlying islands will be alleviated, and a more stable and higher quality localized medical service will be achieved. (Edited by Li Shu-hua) 1150409