TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Executive Yuan (行政院) on Thursday (Nov. 28) announced that it will not increase the internship slots for foreign dental graduates and will rigorously review foreign academic credentials.
This decision comes amid concerns raised by Taiwan Dentists (本土小牙醫聯盟) about the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) allegedly using rural programs as a backdoor for dental graduates from Poland and other European countries to gain Taiwanese medical licenses.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) invited the Taiwan Dentists for a discussion on Tuesday to address their concerns. He stated that while the recognition of foreign credentials is based on the principle of equal international exchange, the government will amend the Enforcement Rules of the Medical Care Act (醫師法施行細則) to ensure the quality of domestic medical training and workforce.
Cho also pledged not to increase the 50 annual internship slots for foreign dental graduates, responding to the demands of Taiwan Dentists. Cho instructed the MOHW to reassess and optimize the rural medical enhancement program. To protect the rights of rural residents, this program will prioritize licensed domestic dentists in 55 underserved rural areas and exclude foreign dental graduates without clinical training.
Michelle Lee (李慧芝), spokesperson for the Executive Yuan, said Cho thanked the Taiwan Dentists for their ongoing advocacy for local dental rights. He also tasked Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) with overseeing the ministry's efforts to refine related plans and legislative amendments.
