May 2, 2011

Taiwan to Fund Hospitals to Help Recruit Medical Staff

The Department of Health of Taiwan announced a plan to spend NT$1bn ($34.8m) to help hospitals recruit and retain nurses and medical care staff. A recent survey showed that hospitals have an average manpower shortage of 10% for nurses and medical care staffers. About 230,000 p

By cms admin

The Department of Health of Taiwan announced a plan to spend NT$1bn ($34.8m) to help hospitals recruit and retain nurses and medical care staff.

A recent survey showed that hospitals have an average manpower shortage of 10% for nurses and medical care staffers.

About 230,000 people in Taiwan hold licences to work as nurses and medical care staffers, but only 130,000 of them are actually serving the health industry.

Department of Health cabinet-level minister Chiu Wen-ta urged hospitals to improve working conditions for medical workers, to avoid over work and exceptionally long hours.

The minister added that the Department of Health plans to raise the financial subsidies to hospitals to NT$2bn ($69.6m) next year, reports The China Post.

The executives have also urged Department of Health to increase medical payments to the hospitals by its Bureau of National Health Insurance, so that they can have sufficient funds to strengthen manpower, shorten working hours and avoid operating losses after increasing the number of employees.