To Prevent Nursing Shortage in Rural Hospitals, National Health Insurance to Increase Reimbursement by September at the Earliest
Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration is expected to begin increasing nursing fee reimbursements for rural hospitals starting in September to prevent a nursing shortage. This aims to support salary increases for nurses in remote areas and help retain talent.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 20:25
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 20:32 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 05:47 (9h 15m after Collected)
Central News Agency (Reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, 12th) The medical law amendment introducing the nurse-to-patient ratio for three shifts was recently passed. With an insufficient supply of nurses, rural hospitals are feared to become severely impacted by nursing staff attrition. The National Health Insurance Administration plans to increase nursing fee reimbursements for rural hospitals to support nurses' salary increases, with the earliest implementation set for September, aiding talent retention in remote areas.
President Lai Ching-te attended the International Nurses Day joint celebration conference today and announced that the timeline for implementing the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio will be adjusted to phased implementation starting on May 20, 2027. Concurrently, a medical human resources research and improvement task force will be established, with the proportion of nursing committee members not less than one-third.
Several rural hospitals recently issued statements indicating that large hospitals and urban hospitals have recruitment advantages, potentially displacing nurses from rural or smaller hospitals. They called on the government to inject nursing fee subsidies to help retain nursing talent in remote areas. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan responded to this before a press conference today on the "National Protective Network for Cardiovascular Disease Care in Young and Middle-aged Adults."
Hsueh Jui-yuan admitted that if the nursing shortage is not filled after the implementation of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, 300 small hospitals could be affected, with an initial estimate of about 76 to 90 small hospitals in rural areas facing a more significant impact.
In addition to relying on "integrated inpatient care" to reduce the care burden on acute general beds, he specifically pointed out that the National Health Insurance Administration is actively studying increasing nursing fee reimbursements for rural hospitals to retain talent and ensure equitable access to medical care in remote areas.
Chen Liang-yu, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that for the 121 regional and district hospitals located in remote areas, the current nursing fee reimbursement is already increased by 15% compared to general hospitals. In response to the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, it is being considered to increase this to 30%, which can be reflected in nurses' salaries. Discussions with the National Nurses Association Federation are planned for late May or early June, with the earliest implementation expected in September this year.
Furthermore, the National Health Insurance Administration is strengthening lipid management and improving care quality for high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients. In conjunction with the "Healthy Taiwan Triple-888 Program for Chronic Diseases," the National Health Insurance High-Lipid Medical Payment Improvement Scheme will be officially promoted starting January 1, 2026, investing 113 million NTD, benefiting approximately 34,000 people. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1140512
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President Lai Ching-te attended the International Nurses Day joint celebration conference today and announced that the timeline for implementing the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio will be adjusted to phased implementation starting on May 20, 2027. Concurrently, a medical human resources research and improvement task force will be established, with the proportion of nursing committee members not less than one-third.
Several rural hospitals recently issued statements indicating that large hospitals and urban hospitals have recruitment advantages, potentially displacing nurses from rural or smaller hospitals. They called on the government to inject nursing fee subsidies to help retain nursing talent in remote areas. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan responded to this before a press conference today on the "National Protective Network for Cardiovascular Disease Care in Young and Middle-aged Adults."
Hsueh Jui-yuan admitted that if the nursing shortage is not filled after the implementation of the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, 300 small hospitals could be affected, with an initial estimate of about 76 to 90 small hospitals in rural areas facing a more significant impact.
In addition to relying on "integrated inpatient care" to reduce the care burden on acute general beds, he specifically pointed out that the National Health Insurance Administration is actively studying increasing nursing fee reimbursements for rural hospitals to retain talent and ensure equitable access to medical care in remote areas.
Chen Liang-yu, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that for the 121 regional and district hospitals located in remote areas, the current nursing fee reimbursement is already increased by 15% compared to general hospitals. In response to the three-shift nurse-to-patient ratio, it is being considered to increase this to 30%, which can be reflected in nurses' salaries. Discussions with the National Nurses Association Federation are planned for late May or early June, with the earliest implementation expected in September this year.
Furthermore, the National Health Insurance Administration is strengthening lipid management and improving care quality for high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients. In conjunction with the "Healthy Taiwan Triple-888 Program for Chronic Diseases," the National Health Insurance High-Lipid Medical Payment Improvement Scheme will be officially promoted starting January 1, 2026, investing 113 million NTD, benefiting approximately 34,000 people. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1140512
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force protecting press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.