Shih Chung-Liang: Immediate Implementation of Three-Shift Nurse-Patient Ratio Could Widen Bed Closure Effect
Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-Liang, stated that immediate full implementation of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio could exacerbate nurse shortages, leading to wider bed closures in hospitals and impacting citizens' access to medical care. The legislation is expected to take effect in May 2028, but some nursing groups oppose the delay and the calculation method (monthly average).
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 12:26
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 12:32 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 04:41 (16h 9m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 11th) The three-shift nurse-patient ratio has been legally incorporated into the Medical Act, with implementation slated for May 2028, but some nursing groups are opposed. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-Liang stated today that if it were to be fully implemented immediately, the shortage of nursing staff would lead to hospitals expanding bed closures to meet standards, thereby affecting citizens' right to medical care.
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of amendments to parts of the Medical Act on the 8th, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into law. Shih Chung-Liang explained that nursing groups hoped for implementation in December 2027, but considering factors such as year-end and the long Lunar New Year holiday, it was decided after discussion to implement it on May 1, 2028. Six hospital labor unions issued a statement, asserting that delaying the implementation was shirking responsibility.
Shih Chung-Liang attended the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan this morning. Before the meeting, he was interviewed by the media and asked about the rationale for the two-year "buffer period" for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio. He stated that if it were to be fully implemented immediately, due to insufficient nursing staff, hospitals might expand bed closures to meet the standards, affecting citizens' right to medical care.
Shih Chung-Liang said that incentive measures for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio were implemented in 2024. At that time, only 30% of hospitals met the standard. As of the second half of last year, after the implementation of incentive measures, 70% of hospitals met the standard. However, some hospitals temporarily closed some beds to meet the standards, especially small and medium-sized regional hospitals.
Shih Chung-Liang stated that the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to promote the three-shift nurse-patient ratio in an orderly and progressive manner, which is expected to take two years, with the official implementation date set for May 1, 2028. During this period, relevant measures will continue to advance, including nurse retention measures such as night shift allowances to improve the workplace environment, gradually enhancing medical capacity, and ensuring that citizens' right to medical care is not affected.
The two-year "buffer period" for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has caused controversy, and some nursing groups are also dissatisfied with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's use of a "monthly average nurse-patient ratio" as the calculation method. Shih Chung-Liang said that this was the greatest consensus reached through discussions between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the medical community in 2024. As each ward has different attributes, with significant differences between critical and minor care wards, "individual calculation for three shifts, with a monthly average for all beds" was adopted as the calculation basis.
Shih Chung-Liang pointed out that the consensus standard of "monthly average nurse-patient ratio" has continued to this day, aligning with the spirit of the articles passed by the Legislative Yuan last week. Regarding external doubts about possible false reporting or padding, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has established an audit mechanism to verify based on NHI (National Health Insurance) declaration data, ensuring the implementation of incentive measures.
Regarding the accusation from nursing representatives that Shih Chung-Liang had said in a meeting, "You are welcome to sue me," he stated that he was taken aback by this claim and thus retrieved the meeting recording, confirming that the entire meeting was recorded. He also stated that a group representative did mention possible legal action that day, and his response was, "Okay, I accept," which was the whole story. (Editor: Guan Chung-wei) 1150511
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 11th) The three-shift nurse-patient ratio has been legally incorporated into the Medical Act, with implementation slated for May 2028, but some nursing groups are opposed. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-Liang stated today that if it were to be fully implemented immediately, the shortage of nursing staff would lead to hospitals expanding bed closures to meet standards, thereby affecting citizens' right to medical care.
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of amendments to parts of the Medical Act on the 8th, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into law. Shih Chung-Liang explained that nursing groups hoped for implementation in December 2027, but considering factors such as year-end and the long Lunar New Year holiday, it was decided after discussion to implement it on May 1, 2028. Six hospital labor unions issued a statement, asserting that delaying the implementation was shirking responsibility.
Shih Chung-Liang attended the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan this morning. Before the meeting, he was interviewed by the media and asked about the rationale for the two-year "buffer period" for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio. He stated that if it were to be fully implemented immediately, due to insufficient nursing staff, hospitals might expand bed closures to meet the standards, affecting citizens' right to medical care.
Shih Chung-Liang said that incentive measures for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio were implemented in 2024. At that time, only 30% of hospitals met the standard. As of the second half of last year, after the implementation of incentive measures, 70% of hospitals met the standard. However, some hospitals temporarily closed some beds to meet the standards, especially small and medium-sized regional hospitals.
Shih Chung-Liang stated that the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to promote the three-shift nurse-patient ratio in an orderly and progressive manner, which is expected to take two years, with the official implementation date set for May 1, 2028. During this period, relevant measures will continue to advance, including nurse retention measures such as night shift allowances to improve the workplace environment, gradually enhancing medical capacity, and ensuring that citizens' right to medical care is not affected.
The two-year "buffer period" for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has caused controversy, and some nursing groups are also dissatisfied with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's use of a "monthly average nurse-patient ratio" as the calculation method. Shih Chung-Liang said that this was the greatest consensus reached through discussions between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the medical community in 2024. As each ward has different attributes, with significant differences between critical and minor care wards, "individual calculation for three shifts, with a monthly average for all beds" was adopted as the calculation basis.
Shih Chung-Liang pointed out that the consensus standard of "monthly average nurse-patient ratio" has continued to this day, aligning with the spirit of the articles passed by the Legislative Yuan last week. Regarding external doubts about possible false reporting or padding, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has established an audit mechanism to verify based on NHI (National Health Insurance) declaration data, ensuring the implementation of incentive measures.
Regarding the accusation from nursing representatives that Shih Chung-Liang had said in a meeting, "You are welcome to sue me," he stated that he was taken aback by this claim and thus retrieved the meeting recording, confirming that the entire meeting was recorded. He also stated that a group representative did mention possible legal action that day, and his response was, "Okay, I accept," which was the whole story. (Editor: Guan Chung-wei) 1150511
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.