"Average" Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Angers Nurses, MOHW: Calculation Unchanged
Taiwan's nursing organizations are protesting the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) plan to legislate an "average nurse-to-patient ratio," arguing against a shift from the three-shift ratio. The MOHW clarifies that the calculation method for the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio has not changed, and rewarding facilities for meeting monthly average targets has been a long-standing practice.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 17:47
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporters Chen Chieh-ling and Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 6th) Taiwan Nurses' Union is protesting the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) intention to legislate an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" instead of a three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. The MOHW explained that the calculation method for the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio has never changed, and that adopting a monthly average for rewarding facilities that meet the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio targets has been a long-standing practice and a consensus among various sectors.
Dissatisfied with the delay in legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, nursing groups gathered thousands of people yesterday to protest outside the MOHW, submitting a petition. The Taiwan Nurses' Union issued a statement today, pointing out that they obtained a revised version of the "Standards for Establishment of Medical Institutions" from the MOHW yesterday, which secretly added the word "average," intending to use an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" as the standard.
The Taiwan Nurses' Union questioned that hospitals would only need to report the average nurse-to-patient ratio for "all units in the entire hospital for the entire month" across three shifts. They believe that this number would be flattened, diluted, and distorted, arguing that an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" is equivalent to "no nurse-to-patient ratio," having no regulatory effect and being a mere formality. If the government insists on adopting an average method as the nurse-to-patient ratio standard, it would be better not to have one at all.
The union reiterated that what nurses want is a three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio calculated separately for each unit, every day, ensuring that the number of patients cared for by each nurse at all times does not exceed the standard. Otherwise, the so-called legalization of the nurse-to-patient ratio would merely be repackaging an already declared ineffective existing system, continuing to deceive people, and the exhaustion and brain drain in the nursing field would not improve.
In response to the union's questioning of the MOHW's revised legislative version, intending to legislate an "average nurse-to-patient ratio," Chen Ching-mei, Deputy Director of the MOHW's Department of Nursing and Health Care, stated in a media interview today that the direction of promoting its inclusion in the establishment standards is consistent with the currently announced standards for encouraging the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. This set of standards was formed two years ago after discussions among various parties and is currently the most consensual version. "This is the greatest common divisor."
Chen Ching-mei explained that the adoption of a monthly average calculation method was established and agreed upon two years ago, and both the assessment and reward mechanisms for the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio are based on a "monthly average." Considering that the scale of each ward varies, it is practically difficult to correspond to each ward individually, and this has not changed to date. The wording included in the establishment standards this time is also consistent with the consensus from two years ago, word for word.
"This should be the best solution for now," Chen Ching-mei said, adding that the MOHW's May 8th meeting will continue to be based on the current three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio calculation standards. The current dispute may stem from cognitive differences. She understands that some groups hope for a nurse-to-patient ratio calculated separately for each unit, every day, and if the nursing community expects a more ideal calculation method, it can be further discussed and evaluated for feasibility at the meeting.
Key to implementing the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio in the future is retaining nursing talent, and improving salaries and benefits is imperative. Shin Kong Hospital Vice President Hung Tzu-jen stated in his speech at the Nurses' Day celebration today that the hospital again raised nurses' salaries starting May 1st this year, marking the seventh salary adjustment for nurses at Shin Kong Hospital in the past two years. After the adjustment, the starting salary for pure day shifts for three-shift nurses reached NT$54,000. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporters Chen Chieh-ling and Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 6th) Taiwan Nurses' Union is protesting the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) intention to legislate an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" instead of a three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. The MOHW explained that the calculation method for the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio has never changed, and that adopting a monthly average for rewarding facilities that meet the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio targets has been a long-standing practice and a consensus among various sectors.
Dissatisfied with the delay in legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, nursing groups gathered thousands of people yesterday to protest outside the MOHW, submitting a petition. The Taiwan Nurses' Union issued a statement today, pointing out that they obtained a revised version of the "Standards for Establishment of Medical Institutions" from the MOHW yesterday, which secretly added the word "average," intending to use an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" as the standard.
The Taiwan Nurses' Union questioned that hospitals would only need to report the average nurse-to-patient ratio for "all units in the entire hospital for the entire month" across three shifts. They believe that this number would be flattened, diluted, and distorted, arguing that an "average nurse-to-patient ratio" is equivalent to "no nurse-to-patient ratio," having no regulatory effect and being a mere formality. If the government insists on adopting an average method as the nurse-to-patient ratio standard, it would be better not to have one at all.
The union reiterated that what nurses want is a three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio calculated separately for each unit, every day, ensuring that the number of patients cared for by each nurse at all times does not exceed the standard. Otherwise, the so-called legalization of the nurse-to-patient ratio would merely be repackaging an already declared ineffective existing system, continuing to deceive people, and the exhaustion and brain drain in the nursing field would not improve.
In response to the union's questioning of the MOHW's revised legislative version, intending to legislate an "average nurse-to-patient ratio," Chen Ching-mei, Deputy Director of the MOHW's Department of Nursing and Health Care, stated in a media interview today that the direction of promoting its inclusion in the establishment standards is consistent with the currently announced standards for encouraging the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. This set of standards was formed two years ago after discussions among various parties and is currently the most consensual version. "This is the greatest common divisor."
Chen Ching-mei explained that the adoption of a monthly average calculation method was established and agreed upon two years ago, and both the assessment and reward mechanisms for the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio are based on a "monthly average." Considering that the scale of each ward varies, it is practically difficult to correspond to each ward individually, and this has not changed to date. The wording included in the establishment standards this time is also consistent with the consensus from two years ago, word for word.
"This should be the best solution for now," Chen Ching-mei said, adding that the MOHW's May 8th meeting will continue to be based on the current three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio calculation standards. The current dispute may stem from cognitive differences. She understands that some groups hope for a nurse-to-patient ratio calculated separately for each unit, every day, and if the nursing community expects a more ideal calculation method, it can be further discussed and evaluated for feasibility at the meeting.
Key to implementing the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio in the future is retaining nursing talent, and improving salaries and benefits is imperative. Shin Kong Hospital Vice President Hung Tzu-jen stated in his speech at the Nurses' Day celebration today that the hospital again raised nurses' salaries starting May 1st this year, marking the seventh salary adjustment for nurses at Shin Kong Hospital in the past two years. After the adjustment, the starting salary for pure day shifts for three-shift nurses reached NT$54,000. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.