Psychiatric Three-Shift Nurse-Patient Ratio Stalled, Ministry of Health and Welfare Awaits Consensus, Plans Incentives First
The introduction of a three-shift nurse-patient ratio for psychiatric acute wards in Taiwan is under debate. The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing advocates for its application similar to general wards, but the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to precede with incentives due to lack of industry consensus, aiming for legalization in two years.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 10, 2026 at 18:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 10, 2026 at 19:01 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 10, 2026 at 19:34 (32 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, May 10th) The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing today stated that psychiatric acute wards should apply the regulations for a three-shift nurse-patient ratio; however, the Ministry of Health and Welfare indicated that there is no consensus on this among the medical and nursing communities. While awaiting consensus, incentives may be implemented first, and it is not ruled out that legislation could be enacted in two years.
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the amendment to Article 12 of the Medical Act on May 8th, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-patient ratio for acute general hospital beds into the parent law, scheduled for implementation on May 1st, 2028. The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing today issued a statement pointing out that since the three-shift nurse-patient ratio for acute general beds has been formally guaranteed by law, psychiatric acute wards should not be excluded.
The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing's statement argues that psychiatric acute wards fall within the scope of 'hospital acute general beds' as defined by the Medical Act, and should not be excluded from the three-shift nurse-patient ratio system through announcements, administrative interpretations, or technical wording. Psychiatric acute wards should be included in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio protection scope and should not be separately excluded during the promotion of the system.
The third reading of the article for the first time explicitly specifies the three-shift nurse-patient ratio standards for medical institution establishment, based on the standards implemented on March 1st, 2024: medical centers at 1:6 for day shifts, 1:9 for evening shifts, and 1:11 for night shifts; regional hospitals at 1:7 for day shifts, 1:11 for evening shifts, and 1:13 for night shifts; and district hospitals at 1:10 for day shifts, 1:13 for evening shifts, and 1:15 for night shifts.
Chen Ching-mei, Deputy Director of the Department of Nursing and Health Care at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media this afternoon that when the three-shift nurse-patient ratio standards were announced for the incentive system in 2024, psychiatric acute wards were temporarily not included in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio system. The main reason was that the medical and nursing communities failed to reach a consensus on the standards for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio in psychiatric acute wards, and there is still no concrete result.
Chen Ching-mei stated that while the number of specialized psychiatric hospitals is not high, it is difficult to meet the night shift nursing staff requirements. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has assisted the medical and nursing communities in holding two meetings, and both sides still expressed a need for further consideration, consistently failing to agree on a mutually acceptable standard. If there is no consensus, direct legislation will be more difficult. They will continue to assist, and once a consensus is reached, they will discuss whether to implement incentives first, and it is not ruled out that legislation could be enacted in two years. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150510
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, May 10th) The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing today stated that psychiatric acute wards should apply the regulations for a three-shift nurse-patient ratio; however, the Ministry of Health and Welfare indicated that there is no consensus on this among the medical and nursing communities. While awaiting consensus, incentives may be implemented first, and it is not ruled out that legislation could be enacted in two years.
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of the amendment to Article 12 of the Medical Act on May 8th, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-patient ratio for acute general hospital beds into the parent law, scheduled for implementation on May 1st, 2028. The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing today issued a statement pointing out that since the three-shift nurse-patient ratio for acute general beds has been formally guaranteed by law, psychiatric acute wards should not be excluded.
The Taiwanese Association for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing's statement argues that psychiatric acute wards fall within the scope of 'hospital acute general beds' as defined by the Medical Act, and should not be excluded from the three-shift nurse-patient ratio system through announcements, administrative interpretations, or technical wording. Psychiatric acute wards should be included in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio protection scope and should not be separately excluded during the promotion of the system.
The third reading of the article for the first time explicitly specifies the three-shift nurse-patient ratio standards for medical institution establishment, based on the standards implemented on March 1st, 2024: medical centers at 1:6 for day shifts, 1:9 for evening shifts, and 1:11 for night shifts; regional hospitals at 1:7 for day shifts, 1:11 for evening shifts, and 1:13 for night shifts; and district hospitals at 1:10 for day shifts, 1:13 for evening shifts, and 1:15 for night shifts.
Chen Ching-mei, Deputy Director of the Department of Nursing and Health Care at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media this afternoon that when the three-shift nurse-patient ratio standards were announced for the incentive system in 2024, psychiatric acute wards were temporarily not included in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio system. The main reason was that the medical and nursing communities failed to reach a consensus on the standards for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio in psychiatric acute wards, and there is still no concrete result.
Chen Ching-mei stated that while the number of specialized psychiatric hospitals is not high, it is difficult to meet the night shift nursing staff requirements. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has assisted the medical and nursing communities in holding two meetings, and both sides still expressed a need for further consideration, consistently failing to agree on a mutually acceptable standard. If there is no consensus, direct legislation will be more difficult. They will continue to assist, and once a consensus is reached, they will discuss whether to implement incentives first, and it is not ruled out that legislation could be enacted in two years. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150510
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for safeguarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.