TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that it has extended the hospital certification period from four to six years, with the updated review system set to begin in 2029.
The review system, conducted by the ministry and the Joint Commission of Taiwan, evaluates hospitals on the safety and rights of care recipients, medical quality and medication safety, infection control, and the use of smart healthcare technologies.
Liu Yu-ching (劉玉菁), deputy director of the Ministry’s Department of Medical Affairs, said the ministry will unveil the new review system at the end of this year. Major changes will evaluate how hospitals use smart healthcare technologies, improve working conditions, train staff, and digitize medical records, per CNA.
Liu called on hospitals to raise salaries for medical staff to help address workforce shortages and adopt digital systems to reduce their workload. She added that hospital review data will be submitted through a cloud platform in cooperation with the National Health Insurance Administration to reduce paper use.
About 65 hospitals in Taiwan passed the review last year, the ministry said. It added that hospitals that break regulations or fail to meet required standards during the approval period could lose their status. The ministry will also carry out unscheduled inspections and step up oversight of underperforming hospitals.
Earlier this month, three surgeons at Taichung Veterans General Hospital allegedly allowed personnel from a medical device company to enter an operating room and handle medical equipment, in a possible breach of the Physicians Act.
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said the ministry has formed a task force to investigate the case and will introduce stricter operating room guidelines. The ministry will also conduct another review of the hospital, focusing on the safety of care recipients and compliance with medical procedures.
