Shih Chung-liang Supports Guaranteed Starting Salary for Nurses; Details to Be Discussed Due to Diverse Practice Models

The Taiwan People's Party legislative caucus recently proposed an amendment to the "National Health Insurance Act," stipulating that medical personnel whose monthly insured salary does not meet a certain standard will be listed as ineligible for NHI special contracts, and authorizing the competent authority to convene relevant groups and experts annually to negotiate and set this standard.

Shih Chung-liang said in a media interview this morning that raising nurses' salaries has become a consensus across all sectors, as nurses work extremely hard in a three-shift system. The government is currently actively improving hospital finances, including through injecting NHI resources and increasing NHI point values, hoping to reflect this substantively in the treatment of frontline personnel.

Shih Chung-liang pointed out that during his tenure as the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration, he had proposed revising the "National Health Insurance Medical Service Institutions Special Contract and Management Regulations," advocating for a clear minimum salary guarantee. This original intention remains unchanged, especially for new entrants to the profession, basic salary guarantees should be provided to improve the practice environment.

However, Shih Chung-liang admitted that there were different voices during past discussions, mainly because medical practice models are diverse. For example, the operating models of clinics and hospitals are completely different, and the work nature of various departments within hospitals also varies. Some units require three shifts, while others mainly work normal hours. These differences must be included in the discussion during the amendment process.

Shih Chung-liang emphasized that establishing a salary guarantee system is to promote a positive cycle, on the one hand, to improve nurses' salary and treatment, and on the other hand, to improve the practice environment, allowing the medical system to continue to develop soundly. In the future, communication will continue regarding various opinions and practice realities to build consensus for specific implementation. (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150408