Gov't Pledges To Lower Nurse-to-Patient Ratio
Taiwan's government says it's going to lower the nurse-to-patient ratio in hospitals, a big source of dissatisfaction in nurses' unions.
Transcript
00:00 Lately, when Taiwan's nurses haven't been caring for patients,
00:03 they've been on the streets protesting work conditions.
00:09 The stress of the job got so bad during Covid-19 years that many of their colleagues quit.
00:15 And those who've stayed on say they're more burnt out than ever.
00:19 Taiwan's nurses don't have quite as heavy a workload as their peers in some other countries.
00:25 But it's still the norm for a nurse here to be caring for over a dozen patients at once.
00:30 But the government's now pledging to change the situation.
00:48 The Health Ministry has set a deadline for the end of the year to find a solution.
00:53 But it may not be that simple.
00:55 Hospitals also have to agree.
00:57 And different hospitals have different ideas.
00:59 Right now, there are seven different proposals that need to be hammered into one by the year's end.
01:01 And there's another problem.
01:03 In addition to the current situation,
01:05 the government's also not being able to meet the needs of the public health workers.
01:07 The government's also not being able to meet the needs of the public health workers.
01:09 The government's also not being able to meet the needs of the public health workers.
01:11 The government's also not being able to meet the needs of the public health workers.
01:13 The government's also not being able to meet the needs of the public health workers.
01:15 And there's another problem.
01:17 In addition to the cost, which the government puts at over 250 million US dollars,
01:19 In addition to the cost, which the government puts at over 250 million US dollars,
01:21 In addition to the cost, which the government puts at over 250 million US dollars,
01:23 there'll need to be a lot of new nurses, around 8,000.
01:25 there'll need to be a lot of new nurses, around 8,000.
01:27 New nurses are most attracted to high-paying urban hospitals.
01:29 New nurses are most attracted to high-paying urban hospitals.
01:31 Rural hospitals, already understaffed, worry about how they'll get the staff they need.
01:33 Rural hospitals, already understaffed, worry about how they'll get the staff they need.
01:35 Rural hospitals, already understaffed, worry about how they'll get the staff they need.
01:37 If the hospitals are far away, they'll be unable to recruit staff.
01:39 If the hospitals are far away, they'll be unable to recruit staff.
01:41 The hospitals will be closed.
01:43 The hospitals will be closed.
01:45 After the hospitals are closed, local medical care will be in great trouble.
01:47 After the hospitals are closed, local medical care will be in great trouble.
01:49 All these are issues that need a quick resolution
01:51 All these are issues that need a quick resolution
01:53 if the government's timetable of next year is to go ahead.
01:55 if the government's timetable of next year is to go ahead.
01:57 Dolphin Chen, John Van Triest and Sally Ensign for Taiwan Plus.
01:59 Dolphin Chen, John Van Triest and Sally Ensign for Taiwan Plus.
02:01 us.
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