Taiwan to enact mandated nurse-patient ratio next year

台灣明年將實施護理師與病患比例規定

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday pledged that Taiwan will implement a mandated nurse-to-patient ratio by May 20, 2027, during an International Nurses Day celebration.

Lai said the policy would be introduced in phases to accelerate improvements in working conditions for nurses and enhance the quality of patient care. He did not provide a detailed implementation timeline, per CNA.

The president also announced the establishment of a medical manpower task force. Lai added that nursing representatives would comprise no less than one-third of the committee’s members.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) acknowledged that Taiwan faces a shortage of nursing staff. However, he said the manpower gap cannot be resolved immediately, adding that shortages differ between urban and rural areas, with recruitment challenges varying among hospital levels.

He said the ministry has been discussing ways to minimize the impact of the new mandated nurse-to-patient ratio, hoping hospitals will not face staffing pressure that could lead to ward closures and affect patients’ access to medical care.

According to a December survey, hospitals would require approximately 3,000 to 5,000 additional nurses in acute and general wards to meet the newly mandated nurse-to-patient ratio across three shifts.

Shih said the number of nurses in March increased by 4,900 compared to the same period last year, with about half working in acute-care beds. He said the estimated shortage of 3,000 nurses could be filled by the second half of next year, per CNA.

He added that Taiwan must accelerate recruitment and retention efforts for nursing staff. He said large and metropolitan hospitals have recruitment advantages, further squeezing staffing at smaller or rural hospitals.

Wu Ming-hsien (吳明賢), former superintendent of National Taiwan University Hospital, also commented on the issue during a press conference on Tuesday. Wu said nurses are frontline healthcare workers and essential members of medical teams, adding that healthcare professionals broadly support the mandated nurse-to-patient ratio policy.

However, he said healthcare is a team effort involving both nurses and doctors, and insufficient staffing could undermine the delivery of medical services.