TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that it will strengthen measures, improve response procedures, and enforce penalties to prevent attacks on medical workers.
The move follows an incident at Taichung’s Cheng Ching Hospital, where a 25-year-old man was taken on Wednesday for treatment after being injured. He later refused treatment and assaulted a nurse, leaving him with a concussion and other injuries.
The hospital immediately alerted police, who reviewed surveillance footage and detained Lin for further investigation. Under the Medical Care Act, those who disrupt medical services through coercion, threats, or verbal abuse may face fines ranging from NT$30,000 (US$990) to NT$50,000 and up to three years in prison, per CNA.
According to the ministry, Taiwan has recorded 1,548 cases of interference with medical services or attacks on medical staff over the past five years. To improve hospital safety, the ministry has worked with local health bureaus to add access controls, increase security staff, and separate treatment and waiting areas. It has also cooperated with the National Police Agency to step up patrols around hospitals.
The Taiwan Medical Association and the Taiwan Union of Nurses on Thursday condemned the attack on medical workers, saying verbal abuse or physical assaults harm staff and disrupt healthcare operations.
The groups emphasized the need to improve emergency reporting and response procedures in hospitals and clinics. They called on the ministry to provide legal support, offer psychological care and counseling for affected medical workers, and conduct emergency drills.
The groups also urged the government to amend laws to clearly classify any attack or verbal abuse on healthcare staff during patient care as a medical assault. They said that some existing regulations are unclear, leaving healthcare workers inadequately protected.
The report said that staffing shortages in the healthcare sector are causing overwork, extended wait times, and poor communication, all of which may contribute to conflicts between medical staff and care recipients. In Taipei’s medical facilities, attacks on healthcare workers occur most frequently in psychiatric wards and emergency departments.
