Ministry of Health 結果共72筆

The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has decided to lower the entry standards for the national examination for nursing personnel in order to address staff shortages. The Minister of Health and Welfare, Hsueh Jui-yuan, expressed his uncertainty about the reasons for nurses’ dissatisfaction with the announcement. The goal of this policy change is to enhance the pass rate in the national examinations and boost the nursing workforce. However, the National Taiwan University Hospital Union argues that the real issue lies in the lack of conducive workplace environments to retain nurses, rather than the number of nursing licenses. They believe that both ministries have failed to adequately discuss the policy change and provide comprehensive explanations and support measures. The union urges hospital management to improve the workplace environment to better handle staffing predicaments.

Taiwanese health authorities plan to include Chinese students in the island’s health insurance starting from the 2024 school year, according to Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan. Currently, international students must wait six months after arriving in Taiwan to be eligible for health insurance. The reform was prompted by concerns from Paraguay about the health rights of its students in Taiwan and was supported by Vice President Lai Ching-te, who advocated for equal treatment of Chinese students. Currently, international students with a residence permit and six months of residency in Taiwan can apply for health insurance at a cost of NT$826 per person per month. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mainland Affairs Council, has been considering this measure for some time and has evaluated its financial impact. The inclusion of Chinese students in the health insurance program will require adjustments to premiums for all international students, but the overall impact is expected to be minimal. The new measure will not apply to students who are in Taiwan for short periods and not pursuing a degree. However, it could be implemented as early as September 2024 for international students with a residence permit. Despite a halt on Chinese students coming to Taiwan since 2020, 378 students registered in 2022. The peak of Chinese students in Taiwan was in 2016, with a total of 41,975 students.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that 26 state-run hospitals will increase salaries by 4% starting in January 2024, with a maximum increase of NT$2,500 per month. Over 8,000 individuals will benefit from this raise, resulting in an annual expenditure increase of at least NT$140 million. This follows incremental raises in nursing bonuses or allowances at 21 state-run hospitals between March and November 2023, ranging from NT$800 to NT$3,000 per month. However, five state-run hospitals in remote areas, islands, or specialized psychiatric hospitals were not included in the adjustments. The increased expenditure will be covered by hospital funds, but it may impact doctor bonuses. The ministry is urging hospitals to implement management strategies to minimize the effects on doctors.

Taiwan’s ice cream industry has reached a record-high production value of NT＄2.8 billion in 2022, with an average year-on-year growth of 8.3% over the past five years, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). This growth is attributed to Westernized eating habits, health-conscious consumption, and the introduction of new flavors that cater to Taiwan’s hot climate. The rise of the ice cream sector has also contributed to the steady growth of Taiwanese dairy consumption, which reached a peak production value of over NT＄40 billion in both 2021 and 2022. Despite this growth, Taiwan primarily relies on dairy imports, with an annual increase of 11.1%. New Zealand is the main import source, followed by the U.S., France, and Australia, accounting for 12.6%, 8.7%, and 7% respectively. These imports mainly consist of cheese, dry cheese, and dairy-based spreads.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) plans to raise the pay of nurses working in hospitals subordinate to the MOHW in response to a mass exodus of top nursing talents due to low-wage disputes. MOHW Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan convened a meeting to discuss a collective pay raise for 12,000 nurses working under affiliate hospitals. The low wages have led to a shortage of talent and disrupted services. By offering higher wages, hospitals hope to attract skilled nurses, expand bed capacity, and increase revenue. Taiwan has approximately 120,000 nurses, with one-tenth working in MOHW-affiliated hospitals, many of which are located in remote areas. The unequal distribution of work between private hospitals and MOHW-affiliated hospitals has been criticized, particularly in providing healthcare in rural areas.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has confirmed ongoing discussions for the establishment of a representative office in Estonia. While the move is significant for strengthening ties between the two nations, a shared consensus has not yet been reached. MOFA expressed gratitude towards the Estonian Government for engaging in continued negotiations and displaying an open approach. They emphasized the shared values of freedom and democracy that unite Taiwan and Estonia. Estonia’s government has reportedly agreed to allow Taiwan to establish an economic or cultural representative office in Tallinn under the name ’Taipei.’ MOFA stated that they will respond to foreign media reports of Taiwan’s Foreign Minister visiting Estonia at an appropriate time. The ministry highlighted the stable development of the bilateral relationship, citing the Estonian health minister’s support for Taiwan at this year’s World Health Assembly. Estonia is seen as a valued partner with common principles, highlighting the potential for deepening ties in future diplomatic endeavors.

Taiwan is confronting a 47% increase in psychiatric diagnoses among youth aged 15 to 30. To address this alarming trend, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has introduced a program offering free psychological consultations. The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat the stigma of mental health issues and encourage more young people to seek treatment.

Over 30 universities in Taiwan have implemented mental health days, according to the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy. This number has increased from just 12 in May. The association cites data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which shows that the number of young people under 24 ending their lives has nearly tripled in the past decade. A recent mental health survey revealed that many students feel the need for mental health days but struggle to communicate their stress to adults. The association believes that providing these days off can give students a chance to rest and adjust, reducing their emotional burdens and helping them cope with stress. Most universities limit mental health days to three or five days per semester to prevent excessive absences.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has announced the enrollment of all newborn babies in the nationwide ＂Project of Holistic Physicians for Young Children.＂ Parents with children under the age of three are also encouraged to participate in the project at no additional cost. The project has seen positive results since its launch, treating cases of prolonged jaundice and tracking patients for fluoride treatment and developmental delays. Enrollment numbers show that 37.6% of the nation’s population has participated, with an increase in participation from vulnerable families and groups. The project aims to identify developmental delays and provide integrated systems for health and social care services, particularly for children in high-risk families. The Ministry is working to increase accessibility by engaging hospitals at all levels and allowing parents to choose their preferred medical institutions registered for the project.

Taiwan is grappling with a growing shortage of doctors in public health centers, affecting healthcare services nationwide. The situation has deteriorated since 2014, and the pandemic has exacerbated the issue, leading many doctors to consider quitting. Healthcare experts are urging comprehensive long-term planning to address the crisis.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has discovered a food company in Taoyuan City that dishonestly labeled pork from the U.S. as being from Canada. The company claimed that an oversight in modifying shipping invoices led to the mistaken labeling.

Six factories of Advanced International Multitech Co., Ltd, the parent company of Launch Technologies Co., have been fined NT$680,000 for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This comes after a tragic fire at a Launch Technologies factory in Pingtung resulted in over a hundred casualties.

The Executive Yuan has approved a plan to provide financial support to night and graveyard shift nurses in Taiwan. The subsidies for different shifts will range from NT$400 to NT$600 for ＂night shifts＂ and NT$600 to NT$1,000 for ＂graveyard shifts.＂

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced a pilot program to label the origin of egg ingredients in convenience stores. This comes after controversy surrounding imported eggs being labeled as produced in Taiwan. The program will focus on labeling eggs used in ＂real transformation＂ items like marinated eggs and tea eggs.

Taiwan prioritizes 65+ for Moderna vaccine, offers test kits and vouchers. Hospitals see a 30% increase in patients. Doctors urge prompt antiviral medication for flu. Elderly advised to get COVID and flu vaccines, with pneumococcal vaccine later.

The MOHW announced on Sept. 12 evening that it is set to loosen restrictions on hiring foreign domestic caregivers, a decision likely to benefit 600,000 individuals in Taiwan in need of care services.

Amid rising awareness of mental health issues, Taiwanese universities have started implementing ＂mental health leaves＂ to support students experiencing emotional stress.

Taiwan’s highly praised healthcare system is facing financial challenges due to inflation and an aging population. The increase in medical expenses and the rising global budget of the National Health Insurance (NHI) has led experts to fear a potential rise in the premium rate next year. 

The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) confirmed Thursday (June 15) that 28 children have negative results when testing for barbiturate phenobarbital, while one’s testing result is still pending.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed Tuesday (June 13) of negative drug results for 26 preschoolers, while one student’s result is pending. 

The kindergarten child drugging case in New Taipei City has sparked outrage and raised concerns about Mayor Hou Yu-ih’s leadership. So far, 17 parents have come forward to report the incident. The 25-day delay in conducting the investigation has deepened skepticism about Hou’s administrative capabilities.

The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants have continued to spread in Taiwan. In a recent meeting organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, health experts decided that the next-generation vaccines will be open for vaccination in two phases.