Three-Shift Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Timeline Questioned as Presidential Pledge Breaks; Shih Chung-liang Eases Concerns
Opposition legislators are questioning President Lai Ching-te's broken promise regarding the implementation timeline of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang has eased concerns and explained the reasons for the delay, while hospital officials and rural hospitals express worries about nursing shortages and call for gradual implementation and support measures.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 18:57
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 19:32 (34 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 20:32 (59 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA)
(Taipei, May 11, CNA reporters Tseng I-ning and Chen Chieh-ling) With the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio expected to be implemented in two years, opposition legislators today questioned President Lai Ching-te for breaking his campaign promise. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang eased concerns and explained the reasons for the delay. Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming believes the government needs time to avoid patients becoming "human footballs," while rural hospitals worry that hasty implementation might force them to close beds.
The amendment to the Medical Care Act passed its third reading on May 8, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang explained that nursing groups hoped for implementation by December 2027, but after discussions, considering factors like year-end and Chinese New Year holidays, it is now expected to be implemented on May 1, 2028. This move has caused dissatisfaction among nursing and hospital union groups.
Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Wang Yu-min today questioned in the Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee that President Lai Ching-te pledged in 2023 to include the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio in legal regulations within two years. If the policy only takes effect on May 1, 2028, it would put President Lai in an unjust position, as the 2028 presidential election will be held in January, not May 1, essentially declaring a broken promise.
Shih Chung-liang responded, "It won't happen. If you're afraid of a broken promise, just vote for President Lai again, and he will definitely implement it." He added that if there is no change in power, President Lai will certainly implement it.
Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming attended a press conference today for "Assisting Good! Taipei Veterans General Hospital Introduces 'Tissue Fragmentation' New Technology to Create a New Era of Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Treatment." After the event, he accepted media interviews, stating that legalizing the nurse-to-patient ratio is certainly a safeguard for nurses, and he supports the bill.
However, he personally believes that the government must be given some time. Otherwise, given the current shortage of 5,000 nurses nationwide, if the policy is implemented hastily and severe penalties are immediately imposed, and another epidemic occurs, even if hospitals meet the nurse-to-patient ratio standards, they might be unwilling to admit more patients due to fear of penalties, making patients "human footballs."
"Hospitals are about saving lives," Chen Wei-ming said. Taking care of nurses is a must, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital spares no effort in caring for nurses. But at the same time, it does not want any patient to be affected. He worries that if rural hospitals cannot recruit enough nurses and are penalized for failing to meet the nurse-to-patient ratio, forcing them to close, "what will happen to the people? What about patients' health?"
Chen Wei-ming also proposed an alternative solution: if a hospital fails to meet the nurse-to-patient ratio, making nurses overworked, it would be better to return the fines to the hospital, allowing the hospital to take better care of its nurses. "This would create more warmth and less conflict, more harmony in society." Otherwise, insufficient nurse-to-patient ratios leading to hospital penalties might create animosity between medical staff.
Ten rural hospitals, including Nanmen Hospital, today issued a joint statement expressing high affirmation and firm support for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's principle of "gradual, phased, and orderly" policy implementation. They also thanked the legislative and administrative branches for balancing the protection of nursing rights with the stability of the medical system, taking into account both the nursing workplace environment and the sustainability of medical services.
The statement pointed out that rural hospitals are located in areas with scarce medical resources, long-suffering from nurse attrition and the dual pressure of being unable to compete with large urban hospitals. Without a two-year buffer period for manpower preparation and system衔接, they might be forced to "close beds to protect themselves," which would primarily affect rural residents and deprive them of local medical care.
Rural hospitals called on the Ministry of Health and Welfare to simultaneously launch supporting measures, including expanding resource allocation to rural hospitals under the "12 Nursing Reform Programs" and establishing a "Rural Nurse Retention Incentive Program." Additionally, they urged continued preferential payment for lighthouse community hospitals within the National Health Insurance global budget. The Ministry of Health and Welfare should also collaborate with the Ministry of Education to promote localized nursing training in rural areas, increasing the number of rural nurses and strengthening rural manpower from the source. (Editors: Lee Shu-hua, Chen Ching-fang) 1150511
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you provide supports press freedom.
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Taipei, May 11, CNA reporters Tseng I-ning and Chen Chieh-ling) With the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio expected to be implemented in two years, opposition legislators today questioned President Lai Ching-te for breaking his campaign promise. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang eased concerns and explained the reasons for the delay. Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming believes the government needs time to avoid patients becoming "human footballs," while rural hospitals worry that hasty implementation might force them to close beds.
The amendment to the Medical Care Act passed its third reading on May 8, officially incorporating the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio into law. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang explained that nursing groups hoped for implementation by December 2027, but after discussions, considering factors like year-end and Chinese New Year holidays, it is now expected to be implemented on May 1, 2028. This move has caused dissatisfaction among nursing and hospital union groups.
Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Wang Yu-min today questioned in the Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee that President Lai Ching-te pledged in 2023 to include the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio in legal regulations within two years. If the policy only takes effect on May 1, 2028, it would put President Lai in an unjust position, as the 2028 presidential election will be held in January, not May 1, essentially declaring a broken promise.
Shih Chung-liang responded, "It won't happen. If you're afraid of a broken promise, just vote for President Lai again, and he will definitely implement it." He added that if there is no change in power, President Lai will certainly implement it.
Taipei Veterans General Hospital Superintendent Chen Wei-ming attended a press conference today for "Assisting Good! Taipei Veterans General Hospital Introduces 'Tissue Fragmentation' New Technology to Create a New Era of Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Treatment." After the event, he accepted media interviews, stating that legalizing the nurse-to-patient ratio is certainly a safeguard for nurses, and he supports the bill.
However, he personally believes that the government must be given some time. Otherwise, given the current shortage of 5,000 nurses nationwide, if the policy is implemented hastily and severe penalties are immediately imposed, and another epidemic occurs, even if hospitals meet the nurse-to-patient ratio standards, they might be unwilling to admit more patients due to fear of penalties, making patients "human footballs."
"Hospitals are about saving lives," Chen Wei-ming said. Taking care of nurses is a must, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital spares no effort in caring for nurses. But at the same time, it does not want any patient to be affected. He worries that if rural hospitals cannot recruit enough nurses and are penalized for failing to meet the nurse-to-patient ratio, forcing them to close, "what will happen to the people? What about patients' health?"
Chen Wei-ming also proposed an alternative solution: if a hospital fails to meet the nurse-to-patient ratio, making nurses overworked, it would be better to return the fines to the hospital, allowing the hospital to take better care of its nurses. "This would create more warmth and less conflict, more harmony in society." Otherwise, insufficient nurse-to-patient ratios leading to hospital penalties might create animosity between medical staff.
Ten rural hospitals, including Nanmen Hospital, today issued a joint statement expressing high affirmation and firm support for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's principle of "gradual, phased, and orderly" policy implementation. They also thanked the legislative and administrative branches for balancing the protection of nursing rights with the stability of the medical system, taking into account both the nursing workplace environment and the sustainability of medical services.
The statement pointed out that rural hospitals are located in areas with scarce medical resources, long-suffering from nurse attrition and the dual pressure of being unable to compete with large urban hospitals. Without a two-year buffer period for manpower preparation and system衔接, they might be forced to "close beds to protect themselves," which would primarily affect rural residents and deprive them of local medical care.
Rural hospitals called on the Ministry of Health and Welfare to simultaneously launch supporting measures, including expanding resource allocation to rural hospitals under the "12 Nursing Reform Programs" and establishing a "Rural Nurse Retention Incentive Program." Additionally, they urged continued preferential payment for lighthouse community hospitals within the National Health Insurance global budget. The Ministry of Health and Welfare should also collaborate with the Ministry of Education to promote localized nursing training in rural areas, increasing the number of rural nurses and strengthening rural manpower from the source. (Editors: Lee Shu-hua, Chen Ching-fang) 1150511
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you provide supports press freedom.
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.