Three-Shift Nurse-Patient Ratio Questioned for Delay; Shih Chung-liang: Unwilling to See Emergency Room Congestion Again
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated that a two-year buffer period is necessary for the implementation of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio law. This is to prevent hospitals from closing beds if they fail to meet standards and to avoid a repeat of last year's emergency department congestion. However, multiple legislators have criticized the policy's delay.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 16:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 16:32 (20 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Jieling, Taipei, 11th) Many legislators today questioned in the Health and Environment Committee that the promise to implement the three-shift nurse-patient ratio law as soon as possible has been broken. Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, said that the increase in nursing staff cannot be achieved overnight, and a two-year buffer period is necessary to prevent hospitals from closing beds if they fail to meet the standards, and to avoid a repeat of last year's emergency department congestion.
Today, the Legislative Yuan's Health and Environment Committee reviewed the central government's general budget for fiscal year 115 regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare's budget, and the general subsidy for municipalities and county governments' health and welfare departments for fiscal year 115. Many legislators raised questions about how the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be calculated after it becomes law, and why a preparation period is needed.
Kuomintang legislator Wang Yu-min pointed out that the nursing union is very angry about the repeated delays in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio. The three-shift nurse-patient ratio was officially enacted on the 8th, but now everyone is told that it will not be implemented until May 1, 2028. When the standards were announced in 2024, the preparation phase had already begun. Now, another two-year preparation period is needed, which is very unfair to nurses. She does not understand why it cannot be implemented by the end of next year, questioning the policy's failure.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Yueh-chin said that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is not meant to create confrontation, but to clarify the system so that the nursing community and the public can understand and trust it. She is concerned about how the two-year buffer period will be implemented to recruit and retain staff and improve scheduling problems. She also worries that the preparation period might become an excuse for hospitals to delay implementation, leading to a gap in nurses' rights, and fears that the system favors employers.
"For three days, I've been scolded to death, and you (Shih Chung-liang) have also been scolded so badly, scolded fiercely." Kuomintang legislator Su Ching-chuan said that President Lai Ching-te once promised to incorporate the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into legal regulations within two years of taking office. Now that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has finally become law, the government has proposed another two-year buffer period, which is too long. It would be best if it could be implemented after three months.
"I think Representative Su Ching-chuan is very clear about what will happen if it is implemented in three or six months?" Shih Chung-liang said that if the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is implemented immediately, the impact will be very large. The medical system needs to continue to operate and cannot be disastrous due to a legal amendment. The promotion of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into law is step-by-step, and the 12 reform measures to improve the nursing workplace have also shown results, but the increase in manpower cannot be achieved overnight.
Shih Chung-liang pointed out that although 70% of hospitals currently meet the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, a considerable proportion of this is achieved by reducing the number of beds. He hopes that in the future, the standard can be met without closing beds, so as not to shrink medical capacity and affect patients' right to medical treatment. In addition, December next year is the peak season for influenza, long holidays, and staff turnover. The last mile of promoting the three-shift nurse-patient ratio must land safely to avoid a repeat of last year's emergency department congestion.
Shih Chung-liang stated that any important decision must include relevant stakeholders, especially regarding the standards for medical institution establishment, which not only involves the sustainable operation of hospitals but also the rights and interests of various personnel and the public. Past revisions of the standards have invited relevant stakeholders to participate. When discussing the three-shift nurse-patient ratio establishment standards on the 8th, representatives from nursing groups, hospital representatives, and user representatives were also invited to participate. (Editor: Zhang Yanjing) May 11, 2026
Today, the Legislative Yuan's Health and Environment Committee reviewed the central government's general budget for fiscal year 115 regarding the Ministry of Health and Welfare's budget, and the general subsidy for municipalities and county governments' health and welfare departments for fiscal year 115. Many legislators raised questions about how the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be calculated after it becomes law, and why a preparation period is needed.
Kuomintang legislator Wang Yu-min pointed out that the nursing union is very angry about the repeated delays in the three-shift nurse-patient ratio. The three-shift nurse-patient ratio was officially enacted on the 8th, but now everyone is told that it will not be implemented until May 1, 2028. When the standards were announced in 2024, the preparation phase had already begun. Now, another two-year preparation period is needed, which is very unfair to nurses. She does not understand why it cannot be implemented by the end of next year, questioning the policy's failure.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Yueh-chin said that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is not meant to create confrontation, but to clarify the system so that the nursing community and the public can understand and trust it. She is concerned about how the two-year buffer period will be implemented to recruit and retain staff and improve scheduling problems. She also worries that the preparation period might become an excuse for hospitals to delay implementation, leading to a gap in nurses' rights, and fears that the system favors employers.
"For three days, I've been scolded to death, and you (Shih Chung-liang) have also been scolded so badly, scolded fiercely." Kuomintang legislator Su Ching-chuan said that President Lai Ching-te once promised to incorporate the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into legal regulations within two years of taking office. Now that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has finally become law, the government has proposed another two-year buffer period, which is too long. It would be best if it could be implemented after three months.
"I think Representative Su Ching-chuan is very clear about what will happen if it is implemented in three or six months?" Shih Chung-liang said that if the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is implemented immediately, the impact will be very large. The medical system needs to continue to operate and cannot be disastrous due to a legal amendment. The promotion of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio into law is step-by-step, and the 12 reform measures to improve the nursing workplace have also shown results, but the increase in manpower cannot be achieved overnight.
Shih Chung-liang pointed out that although 70% of hospitals currently meet the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, a considerable proportion of this is achieved by reducing the number of beds. He hopes that in the future, the standard can be met without closing beds, so as not to shrink medical capacity and affect patients' right to medical treatment. In addition, December next year is the peak season for influenza, long holidays, and staff turnover. The last mile of promoting the three-shift nurse-patient ratio must land safely to avoid a repeat of last year's emergency department congestion.
Shih Chung-liang stated that any important decision must include relevant stakeholders, especially regarding the standards for medical institution establishment, which not only involves the sustainable operation of hospitals but also the rights and interests of various personnel and the public. Past revisions of the standards have invited relevant stakeholders to participate. When discussing the three-shift nurse-patient ratio establishment standards on the 8th, representatives from nursing groups, hospital representatives, and user representatives were also invited to participate. (Editor: Zhang Yanjing) May 11, 2026