President: Three-Shift Nurse-Patient Ratio to Be Implemented in Phases from 2027, Medical Personnel Task Force Established
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced that the legalization of the "three-shift nurse-patient ratio" will be implemented in phases starting May 20, 2027, to improve nurses' working conditions. He also instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a medical personnel research and improvement task force.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 16:52
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 17:02 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 08:05 (15h 3m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei 12th) President Lai Ching-te said today that the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is a historic moment for nurses' work. He announced that the implementation, originally scheduled for May 1, 2028, will be adjusted to phased implementation starting May 20, 2027, and asked the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a medical personnel research and improvement task force.
President Lai attended the International Nurses Day joint celebration conference and expressed his nostalgia for the days when he worked with nurses to care for patients in hospitals. He stated that nurses are the ones who have the longest contact with patients and bear the greatest pressure, directly facing the emotions of patients and their families. He was moved and admired that nurses, despite such heavy workloads, can still treat patients as if they were family, apply their professionalism to solve problems, and show care by understanding the families' situations.
President Lai mentioned that as of December 31, 2025, the nursing workforce was over 198,000 people; compared to 2024, there was an increase of 4,600 people, returning to pre-COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) levels. He emphasized that this is the result of the joint efforts of the government, various associations, professional organizations, and the nursing and medical communities, and initial results have been seen.
In addition, President Lai stated that the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio within two years was a common political platform of all candidates in the 2023 presidential election. The Legislative Yuan officially resolved to include it in law on the 8th, with all parties proposing versions and expressing support; he thanked the nursing community for their efforts and the support of all parties, both ruling and opposition. The legalization of the nurse-patient ratio is a historic moment for nurses' work and should be given warm applause.
President Lai said that regarding the subsequent planning for the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, the nursing community had signed an agreement with Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang on the 5th, hoping to implement it starting December 31, 2027; however, Shih Chung-liang was concerned about personnel turnover at the end of the year, coupled with factors such as winter influenza, which might lead to an insufficient nursing workforce. Therefore, he suggested changing it to start on May 1, 2028.
In response, President Lai announced that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be implemented in phases starting May 20, 2027.
Furthermore, the advisory committee originally proposed by the nursing community was not passed during the Legislative Yuan's review. President Lai said that he would ask the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a "Medical Personnel Research and Improvement Task Force," covering nurses and other medical professionals, to review personnel allocation one by one, with the proportion of nursing committee members not being less than one-third.
President Lai said that investing in nursing is investing in life, and he will continue to promote 12 strategies for preparing the nursing workforce and ensure stable funding. The government will continuously monitor the nursing workforce situation, implement supporting measures, ensure that hospital operations are not affected by nursing workforce issues, and protect patients' rights to medical care. (Edited by: Wu Su-jou) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei 12th) President Lai Ching-te said today that the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio is a historic moment for nurses' work. He announced that the implementation, originally scheduled for May 1, 2028, will be adjusted to phased implementation starting May 20, 2027, and asked the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a medical personnel research and improvement task force.
President Lai attended the International Nurses Day joint celebration conference and expressed his nostalgia for the days when he worked with nurses to care for patients in hospitals. He stated that nurses are the ones who have the longest contact with patients and bear the greatest pressure, directly facing the emotions of patients and their families. He was moved and admired that nurses, despite such heavy workloads, can still treat patients as if they were family, apply their professionalism to solve problems, and show care by understanding the families' situations.
President Lai mentioned that as of December 31, 2025, the nursing workforce was over 198,000 people; compared to 2024, there was an increase of 4,600 people, returning to pre-COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) levels. He emphasized that this is the result of the joint efforts of the government, various associations, professional organizations, and the nursing and medical communities, and initial results have been seen.
In addition, President Lai stated that the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio within two years was a common political platform of all candidates in the 2023 presidential election. The Legislative Yuan officially resolved to include it in law on the 8th, with all parties proposing versions and expressing support; he thanked the nursing community for their efforts and the support of all parties, both ruling and opposition. The legalization of the nurse-patient ratio is a historic moment for nurses' work and should be given warm applause.
President Lai said that regarding the subsequent planning for the legalization of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, the nursing community had signed an agreement with Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang on the 5th, hoping to implement it starting December 31, 2027; however, Shih Chung-liang was concerned about personnel turnover at the end of the year, coupled with factors such as winter influenza, which might lead to an insufficient nursing workforce. Therefore, he suggested changing it to start on May 1, 2028.
In response, President Lai announced that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be implemented in phases starting May 20, 2027.
Furthermore, the advisory committee originally proposed by the nursing community was not passed during the Legislative Yuan's review. President Lai said that he would ask the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a "Medical Personnel Research and Improvement Task Force," covering nurses and other medical professionals, to review personnel allocation one by one, with the proportion of nursing committee members not being less than one-third.
President Lai said that investing in nursing is investing in life, and he will continue to promote 12 strategies for preparing the nursing workforce and ensure stable funding. The government will continuously monitor the nursing workforce situation, implement supporting measures, ensure that hospital operations are not affected by nursing workforce issues, and protect patients' rights to medical care. (Edited by: Wu Su-jou) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.