Lai Ching-te urges medical sector to prioritize frontline staff salary increases by 2032

Attending a public event today, ROC President Lai Ching-te delivered an important speech addressing the resource allocation of the domestic medical system and future policy visions. He explicitly called upon the medical sector, stating that in order to implement the governance blueprint of a "Healthy Taiwan," the government has demonstrated a high level of sincerity in its investment in the overall budget and medical resources, with the National Health Insurance (NHI) total expenditure caps having been compiled using a high-estimation method of 5.5 percent for two consecutive years. Under this premise, after receiving more financial resources injected by the government, the primary task of medical institutions and medical associations should be to give back to the grassroots by prioritizing salary increases for doctors, nurses, medical laboratory technologists, and other types of medical practitioners within their institutions, as well as comprehensively improving working conditions and the practice environment. This appeal not only highlights the government's emphasis on the issue of medical manpower drain, but also brings the justice of resource allocation to the forefront, making it a focal point of intense attention within the domestic medical sector and health authorities.

In addition to urging the medical sector to treat grassroots employees well and implement reasonable remuneration, President Lai also officially announced the mid-to-long-term development goals for Taiwan's public health during the meeting. The government has set specific indicators for the nation, expecting to effectively increase the average life expectancy of all citizens by three years by the year 2032. The establishment of this policy goal represents a shift in the mindset of Taiwan's medical policy. The core value of modern public health has long ceased to be simply the pursuit of extending citizens' biological life; rather, it further emphasizes the concept of "healthy life expectancy." The government's governance direction is very clear: not only to enable the people of Taiwan to live long lives, but also to ensure that the process of longevity is accompanied by a good quality of life and physical health, thereby reducing the burden caused by chronic diseases and disability states on individuals and families.

To achieve the grand goal of increasing average life expectancy by three years while balancing health quality, slogans or the efforts of a single unit alone can never make it a reality; it must rely on cross-ministerial cooperation and the continuous optimization of the overall medical and health system. Reviewing the past period, the domestic medical system has long faced structural dilemmas such as shortages in key specialties, a nursing personnel shortage, and the uneven distribution of grassroots medical resources. Although many medical institutions have grown in overall revenue, the wages and workloads of grassroots employees have not improved proportionally, leading a large number of outstanding medical talents to choose to resign or change careers. This time, by raising the estimated proportion of the NHI total expenditure cap, the government is effectively fighting for more resources for the medical sector at the institutional level, while simultaneously holding moral and policy leverage to demand that these resources be substantially trickled down to frontline medical personnel, thereby stabilizing the foundation of Taiwan's medical system.

From the macro perspective of policy and socio-economics, there is an inseparable positive cycle between the improvement of medical personnel's working conditions and the enhancement of the nation's overall health indicators. When key personnel such as doctors, nurses, and medical technologists can work in a reasonable and dignified environment, the quality of medical services and patient safety standards can naturally be guaranteed, thereby reducing the risk of medical accidents and enhancing treatment efficacy. This can play a critical role in promoting preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and elderly care policies within the "Healthy Taiwan" vision. As Taiwanese society rapidly enters a super-aged society, how to properly utilize NHI resources, balance the operations of medical institutions, and protect the rights and interests of medical personnel has become an important issue for national sustainable development. The President's public statement this time undoubtedly points out a clear direction and social expectation for the future resource utilization and salary adjustments of the medical sector.

In summary, the policy proposals put forward by President Lai Ching-te regarding the use of funds in the medical sector and the average life expectancy of citizens take into account both labor rights and public health development. When the government shows sincerity and continuously compiles the NHI total expenditure cap with high estimations to support the medical system, the medical sector in turn bears the social responsibility of taking care of grassroots employees. In the future, relevant ministries of the central government will inevitably continue to monitor the flow and allocation efficiency of NHI resources, and through the promotion of various public health policies, step by step march toward the goal of increasing average life expectancy by three years by 2032, enabling citizens to live healthy and long lives. This is not only an important milestone in Taiwan's medical reform, but will also profoundly affect the future health welfare and medical quality of every citizen.

(Source of facts: Central News Agency)