Three-Shift Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Enacted into Law, Nursing Community: Reduces Burden, Helps Manpower Return
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to the Medical Care Act, enacting the "three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio" into law. Chen Li-chin, President of the National Nurses Association, stated that this long-sought achievement will not only reduce the burden on nurses but also help attract manpower back and stabilize the workplace environment.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 17:46
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Taipei, May 8 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to parts of the Medical Care Act, enacting the "three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio" into law. Chen Li-chin, President of the National Nurses Association, stated that this long-sought achievement will not only reduce the burden on nurses but also help attract manpower back and stabilize the workplace environment.
The existing regulations on nurse-to-patient ratios are stipulated in the "Standards for Establishment of Medical Institutions" at the administrative order level, which specifies the "full-day nurse-to-patient ratio." Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare implemented the "three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio" standards for hospitals of all levels starting from March 1, 2024, during the transitional period before its enactment into law, there was only an incentive system, lacking mandatory power and punitive mechanisms.
The currently implemented three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards are: medical centers have 1:6 for day shifts, 1:9 for evening shifts, and 1:11 for night shifts; regional hospitals have 1:7 for day shifts, 1:11 for evening shifts, and 1:13 for night shifts; and local hospitals have 1:10 for day shifts, 1:13 for evening shifts, and 1:15 for night shifts. Hospitals that meet the standards early can receive more incentive payments.
The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to parts of the Medical Care Act. In addition to enacting the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law, violators will be punished according to regulations and ordered to improve within a time limit. Those who fail to improve will be continuously punished repeatedly. If no improvement is seen within one year after three penalties, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed.
Chen Li-chin, President of the National Nurses Association, could not hide her joy when interviewed by the media this afternoon. She stated that the enactment of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law has been a common aspiration of the nursing community for many years, and now the goal has finally been achieved. "I am really happy," she said, thanking the efforts of her predecessors and the assistance of opposition party caucuses.
Chen Li-chin revealed that the nursing groups originally insisted that the proportion of nursing representatives in relevant committees should be more than 1/2, but due to differing opinions, in order to ensure the smooth promotion of the bill, "we said that if we cannot account for more than 1/2, we would rather remove the committee provisions." Although the final version passed does not have a committee structure, its core content is consistent with the previously discussed standards.
The third reading of the provisions clearly stipulates that the ratio of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio for acute general beds in hospitals shall be determined by the central competent authority, taking into account the maintenance of patient safety and the protection of labor rights, and shall be reviewed regularly every three years, and adjusted if necessary.
The third reading of the provisions clearly stipulates that the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards first specified in the establishment standards shall be based on the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards implemented on March 1, 2024. This amendment also adds penalties, including continuous penalties for those who fail to improve by the deadline. If no improvement is seen within one year after three penalties, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150508
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The existing regulations on nurse-to-patient ratios are stipulated in the "Standards for Establishment of Medical Institutions" at the administrative order level, which specifies the "full-day nurse-to-patient ratio." Although the Ministry of Health and Welfare implemented the "three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio" standards for hospitals of all levels starting from March 1, 2024, during the transitional period before its enactment into law, there was only an incentive system, lacking mandatory power and punitive mechanisms.
The currently implemented three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards are: medical centers have 1:6 for day shifts, 1:9 for evening shifts, and 1:11 for night shifts; regional hospitals have 1:7 for day shifts, 1:11 for evening shifts, and 1:13 for night shifts; and local hospitals have 1:10 for day shifts, 1:13 for evening shifts, and 1:15 for night shifts. Hospitals that meet the standards early can receive more incentive payments.
The Legislative Yuan today passed the third reading of amendments to parts of the Medical Care Act. In addition to enacting the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law, violators will be punished according to regulations and ordered to improve within a time limit. Those who fail to improve will be continuously punished repeatedly. If no improvement is seen within one year after three penalties, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed.
Chen Li-chin, President of the National Nurses Association, could not hide her joy when interviewed by the media this afternoon. She stated that the enactment of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law has been a common aspiration of the nursing community for many years, and now the goal has finally been achieved. "I am really happy," she said, thanking the efforts of her predecessors and the assistance of opposition party caucuses.
Chen Li-chin revealed that the nursing groups originally insisted that the proportion of nursing representatives in relevant committees should be more than 1/2, but due to differing opinions, in order to ensure the smooth promotion of the bill, "we said that if we cannot account for more than 1/2, we would rather remove the committee provisions." Although the final version passed does not have a committee structure, its core content is consistent with the previously discussed standards.
The third reading of the provisions clearly stipulates that the ratio of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio for acute general beds in hospitals shall be determined by the central competent authority, taking into account the maintenance of patient safety and the protection of labor rights, and shall be reviewed regularly every three years, and adjusted if necessary.
The third reading of the provisions clearly stipulates that the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards first specified in the establishment standards shall be based on the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio standards implemented on March 1, 2024. This amendment also adds penalties, including continuous penalties for those who fail to improve by the deadline. If no improvement is seen within one year after three penalties, a suspension of business for one month to one year will be imposed. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150508
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.