TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) plans to ask the Ministry of Agriculture (農業部) to introduce non-practicing bonuses for official veterinarians. Announced on Monday (Jan. 6), this initiative aims to reduce income disparities and attract talent to address the significant shortage in the veterinary workforce.
speaking at the 53rd Veterinary Day celebration, President Lai emphasized veterinarians' critical role in disease prevention, food safety, and caring for over 2.5 million pets. He pointed out a 40% shortfall in domestic official veterinarians, which requires immediate attention. Lai recalled his childhood experience with his mother raising pigs and pledged robust support for veterinarians through concrete actions.
The Taiwan Veterinary Medical Association (全國獸醫師公會全國聯合會) President David Tan (譚大倫) highlighted the gap in central and local government veterinary positions, which stand at 20% and 40%, respectively, among the approximately 5,000 veterinarians nationwide. Tan noted the 25-year-old foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, which led to NT$170 billion in economic losses, underscoring the need for non-practicing bonuses to fill workforce gaps and prevent future epidemics.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) later arrived at the event, expressing the Executive Yuan's (行政院) commitment to this cause. He anticipated that Taiwan might receive recognition from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a classical swine fever-free zone this year, potentially expanding the pork export market.
