Medical Act Amended in Third Reading: Three-Shift Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Legislated, Violators Face Up to 1 Year Suspension
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to the Medical Act, mandating a three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. Healthcare institutions failing to comply and improve after warnings will face penalties, including a potential suspension of operations for up to one year.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 16:42
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 17:02 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 22:34 (5h 32m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, Central News Agency reporter Lin Ching-Yin, 8th) On the eve of International Nurses Day on May 12, the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, a matter of concern to all nursing staff nationwide, has been legislated. The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to certain articles of the Medical Act. In addition to legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, violators will be punished according to regulations and ordered to improve within a time limit. Those who fail to improve will be continuously penalized. If penalized 3 times and still fail to improve within one year, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed.
Today, the Legislative Yuan legislated the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio by adding the fourth paragraph to Article 12 of the Medical Act.
Originally, the Taiwan People's Party caucus demanded the establishment of a consultative committee, which was not accepted by the Kuomintang caucus. The Kuomintang Legislative Yuan caucus stated yesterday that they would jointly promote an amendment version with the Taiwan People's Party Legislative Yuan caucus today. In addition to legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, they supported the Taiwan People's Party's proposal to establish a consultative committee by the central competent authority to be responsible for reviewing and adjusting after the amendment. The Democratic Progressive Party caucus also proposed an amendment today, supporting the establishment of a consultative committee.
However, after noon, the situation changed. After several negotiations, the Blue and White camps announced their split and each proposed their versions. Legislator Chiu Hui-Ju of the Taiwan People's Party was spotted by the media weeping outside the negotiation venue. When nursing groups were petitioning outside the Legislative Yuan in the afternoon, Chiu Hui-Ju was found hiding in a corner, covering her face and crying, at one point bending over and squatting. She eventually cried her way into the chamber, where Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Szu-Yao went to console her.
Finally, when the Yuan handled this case in the afternoon, the Blue, White, and Green camps each proposed their versions for Article 12. First, the Taiwan People's Party caucus's amendment motion was voted on, receiving only 8 votes, with the Kuomintang caucus all abstaining. Next, the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's amendment motion was voted on; the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's 51 votes lost to the combined 60 votes of the Blue and White camps. Finally, the Kuomintang caucus's amendment motion was voted on, with the Blue and White camps combining for 60 votes, winning over the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's 50 votes.
The third reading of the article clearly stipulates that the ratio of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio for acute general hospital beds shall be determined by the central competent authority, taking into consideration the maintenance of patient safety and the protection of labor rights, and shall be regularly reviewed once every three years, and adjusted if necessary.
The third reading of the article clearly stipulates that the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standard first specified in the establishment standards shall be based on the standard implemented on March 1, 2024.
This amendment also adds penalties. The third reading stipulates that for violations of the establishment standards set forth in Article 12, Paragraph 4, excluding medical institutions in mountainous and outlying island areas as stipulated in Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Act, penalties shall be imposed according to the following regulations, and improvement shall be ordered within a time limit: 1. District hospitals: A fine of not less than NT$50,000 and not more than NT$250,000. 2. Regional hospitals: A fine of not less than NT$200,000 and not more than NT$1,000,000. 3. Medical centers: A fine of not less than NT$1,000,000 and not more than NT$2,000,000.
If no improvement is made, the third reading stipulates that those who fail to improve by the deadline will be continuously penalized. If penalized 3 times and still fail to improve within one year, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed. (Editor: Su Chih-Chung) 1150508
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(Taipei, Central News Agency reporter Lin Ching-Yin, 8th) On the eve of International Nurses Day on May 12, the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, a matter of concern to all nursing staff nationwide, has been legislated. The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to certain articles of the Medical Act. In addition to legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, violators will be punished according to regulations and ordered to improve within a time limit. Those who fail to improve will be continuously penalized. If penalized 3 times and still fail to improve within one year, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed.
Today, the Legislative Yuan legislated the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio by adding the fourth paragraph to Article 12 of the Medical Act.
Originally, the Taiwan People's Party caucus demanded the establishment of a consultative committee, which was not accepted by the Kuomintang caucus. The Kuomintang Legislative Yuan caucus stated yesterday that they would jointly promote an amendment version with the Taiwan People's Party Legislative Yuan caucus today. In addition to legislating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, they supported the Taiwan People's Party's proposal to establish a consultative committee by the central competent authority to be responsible for reviewing and adjusting after the amendment. The Democratic Progressive Party caucus also proposed an amendment today, supporting the establishment of a consultative committee.
However, after noon, the situation changed. After several negotiations, the Blue and White camps announced their split and each proposed their versions. Legislator Chiu Hui-Ju of the Taiwan People's Party was spotted by the media weeping outside the negotiation venue. When nursing groups were petitioning outside the Legislative Yuan in the afternoon, Chiu Hui-Ju was found hiding in a corner, covering her face and crying, at one point bending over and squatting. She eventually cried her way into the chamber, where Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Szu-Yao went to console her.
Finally, when the Yuan handled this case in the afternoon, the Blue, White, and Green camps each proposed their versions for Article 12. First, the Taiwan People's Party caucus's amendment motion was voted on, receiving only 8 votes, with the Kuomintang caucus all abstaining. Next, the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's amendment motion was voted on; the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's 51 votes lost to the combined 60 votes of the Blue and White camps. Finally, the Kuomintang caucus's amendment motion was voted on, with the Blue and White camps combining for 60 votes, winning over the Democratic Progressive Party caucus's 50 votes.
The third reading of the article clearly stipulates that the ratio of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio for acute general hospital beds shall be determined by the central competent authority, taking into consideration the maintenance of patient safety and the protection of labor rights, and shall be regularly reviewed once every three years, and adjusted if necessary.
The third reading of the article clearly stipulates that the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standard first specified in the establishment standards shall be based on the standard implemented on March 1, 2024.
This amendment also adds penalties. The third reading stipulates that for violations of the establishment standards set forth in Article 12, Paragraph 4, excluding medical institutions in mountainous and outlying island areas as stipulated in Article 11, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Act, penalties shall be imposed according to the following regulations, and improvement shall be ordered within a time limit: 1. District hospitals: A fine of not less than NT$50,000 and not more than NT$250,000. 2. Regional hospitals: A fine of not less than NT$200,000 and not more than NT$1,000,000. 3. Medical centers: A fine of not less than NT$1,000,000 and not more than NT$2,000,000.
If no improvement is made, the third reading stipulates that those who fail to improve by the deadline will be continuously penalized. If penalized 3 times and still fail to improve within one year, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed. (Editor: Su Chih-Chung) 1150508
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.