Shih Chung-liang: Three-Shift Nurse-Patient Ratio to Be Promoted with Plan, No Default
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang reiterated today that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio policy will be promoted with a plan and will not be defaulted, transitioning from an encouraging policy to a mandatory legal requirement.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 12:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 12:31 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 13:10 (38 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 12th) The issue of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio continues, and Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang is once again embroiled in a gaffe controversy. He reiterated today that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, transitioning from an encouraging policy to a mandatory legal requirement, is not a temporary decision or a mere slogan, but a policy promoted with a plan, and it will definitely not be defaulted.
The three-shift nurse-patient ratio is expected to be implemented in two years. Several legislators have recently questioned President Lai Ching-te's campaign promise being defaulted. Shih Chung-liang said yesterday in the Legislative Yuan, "No, if you are afraid of default, just vote for President Lai again, and he will definitely implement it." He added that if there is no change in leadership, President Lai will definitely implement it, which was questioned by the public as a gaffe.
Shih Chung-liang attended the launch press conference for the Asia-Pacific Rare Disease Innovative Treatment Center this morning. Before the conference, he was interviewed by the media and asked how to respond to the gaffe controversy. He said that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has changed from a recommended encouraging measure to a legally binding regulation. "It's not about shouting numbers or implementing it immediately; we must promote the policy responsibly."
Shih Chung-liang emphasized that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been actively preparing for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio since President Lai took office, hoping that when the new system is launched, hospitals will not face the pressure of having to meet standards due to insufficient nursing staff, which could lead to bed closures and affect patients' right to medical care. He stressed the need to promote the policy responsibly and guaranteed that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be implemented within President Lai's first term, which is before May 20, 117.
Shih Chung-liang stated that regarding the implementation of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will proceed according to the previous plan and will definitely not default. This is not just about the three-shift nurse-patient ratio; since President Lai took office, he has been the president who has invested the most medical resources in history, including the National Health Insurance's total budget growing at the highest rate of 5.5% for two consecutive years, and this year's total budget being the highest in history. Currently, each point value of the National Health Insurance has exceeded 0.95 NT dollars.
Shih Chung-liang said that President Lai has repeatedly called on hospital directors in public and private settings to use the optimized National Health Insurance point value funds for salary increases for medical personnel, especially nurses. Currently, 12 strategic plans for nursing workforce policy preparation have been launched, covering talent cultivation, improvement of working conditions, and salary increases, prioritizing the improvement of nursing costs for critical care, emergency rooms, and intensive care units, hoping to retain and attract more nursing talent. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150512
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 12th) The issue of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio continues, and Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang is once again embroiled in a gaffe controversy. He reiterated today that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, transitioning from an encouraging policy to a mandatory legal requirement, is not a temporary decision or a mere slogan, but a policy promoted with a plan, and it will definitely not be defaulted.
The three-shift nurse-patient ratio is expected to be implemented in two years. Several legislators have recently questioned President Lai Ching-te's campaign promise being defaulted. Shih Chung-liang said yesterday in the Legislative Yuan, "No, if you are afraid of default, just vote for President Lai again, and he will definitely implement it." He added that if there is no change in leadership, President Lai will definitely implement it, which was questioned by the public as a gaffe.
Shih Chung-liang attended the launch press conference for the Asia-Pacific Rare Disease Innovative Treatment Center this morning. Before the conference, he was interviewed by the media and asked how to respond to the gaffe controversy. He said that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio has changed from a recommended encouraging measure to a legally binding regulation. "It's not about shouting numbers or implementing it immediately; we must promote the policy responsibly."
Shih Chung-liang emphasized that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been actively preparing for the three-shift nurse-patient ratio since President Lai took office, hoping that when the new system is launched, hospitals will not face the pressure of having to meet standards due to insufficient nursing staff, which could lead to bed closures and affect patients' right to medical care. He stressed the need to promote the policy responsibly and guaranteed that the three-shift nurse-patient ratio will be implemented within President Lai's first term, which is before May 20, 117.
Shih Chung-liang stated that regarding the implementation of the three-shift nurse-patient ratio, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will proceed according to the previous plan and will definitely not default. This is not just about the three-shift nurse-patient ratio; since President Lai took office, he has been the president who has invested the most medical resources in history, including the National Health Insurance's total budget growing at the highest rate of 5.5% for two consecutive years, and this year's total budget being the highest in history. Currently, each point value of the National Health Insurance has exceeded 0.95 NT dollars.
Shih Chung-liang said that President Lai has repeatedly called on hospital directors in public and private settings to use the optimized National Health Insurance point value funds for salary increases for medical personnel, especially nurses. Currently, 12 strategic plans for nursing workforce policy preparation have been launched, covering talent cultivation, improvement of working conditions, and salary increases, prioritizing the improvement of nursing costs for critical care, emergency rooms, and intensive care units, hoping to retain and attract more nursing talent. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150512
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to get the latest news instantly.
No text, images, or audio/video on this website may be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.