TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Dentist (本土小牙醫聯盟), a Facebook group advocating for dentist rights, on Tuesday (Dec. 24) criticized the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) for allegedly relaxing regulations in the "Physicians Act" (醫師法) enforcement rules. The group accused President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of failing to fulfill his November promise to raise the examination standards for returning dentists from Eastern and Central Europe.
Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) defended the new rules, calling them the strictest in 20 years. He stated that the consensus is "to close the door" on low-standard qualifications. In February, the ministry listed nine disqualifying conditions for foreign medical degrees, including correspondence and distance learning. On Nov. 25, two more conditions were added: lack of public recruitment and exams and non-reciprocal recognition of Taiwanese medical degrees by the foreign country.
Yao Hsin-i (姚欣宜), director of the Taiwan General Dental Practitioners Association (台灣基層牙醫師協會) and Taiwan Dentist, argued that the new rules dilute the degree verification process, effectively relinquishing oversight responsibilities. Minister Chiu emphasized that the Ministry of Examination (考選部) is reviewing the strict regulations, asserting that the process should be very stringent.
