Legislative Yuan Inspects Miaoli Healthcare; Minister Shih Chung-liang: Considering Increasing On-Duty Fees for Rural Medical Staff

(CNA reporter Guan Rui-ping, Miaoli County, 1st) The Legislative Yuan's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee invited Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang today to inspect medical institutions in Miaoli County. Shih expressed support for strengthening Miaoli's critical care network and stated that he would consider increasing the payment standards for consultation fees and on-duty fees for medical staff under the IDS program by 30%. Shih, accompanied by the committee's convener Lin Yue-qin, KMT legislator Chiu Chen-chun, DPP Miaoli County magistrate candidate Chen Pin-an, and Miaoli Mayor Yu Wen-chung, visited the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Miaoli Hospital and Da-Chien General Hospital to understand the needs for emergency and critical care, talent retention, smart healthcare, long-term care integration, and public medical infrastructure in Miaoli. Lin Yue-qin noted that Da-Chien Hospital has supported the emergency, critical care, rehabilitation, dialysis, and nursing needs of Miaoli City and surrounding townships for over half a century. She added that the Ministry-run Miaoli Hospital is a key public medical base for the central government in Miaoli, and the inspection was arranged to reflect the long-term talent shortages faced by rural and local healthcare, hoping that central resources can more accurately assist local medical institutions and improve Miaoli's medical service capacity. Shih stated that Miaoli Hospital bears the mission of public healthcare, and the new emergency and critical care building, funded by 2.1 billion NTD from the central government, is scheduled to be tendered in July, with the goal of completion and operation by 2029. After the new building is completed, the adjustment of the old building should integrate long-term care and medical systems, and the need for Traditional Chinese Medicine departments tailored to local elderly needs should be considered. Regarding the Zhunan campus currently under construction by Da-Chien Hospital, Shih stated that the Ministry would assess the county's medical resources and assist in building isolation wards, burn units, hospice beds, and neonatal intensive care units if they are lacking. Shih mentioned that the Ministry would consider increasing the payment standards for consultation fees and on-duty fees for medical staff under the 'National Health Insurance Mountain and Offshore Islands Medical Benefit Improvement Plan (IDS Plan)' by 30% to strengthen rural medical services. He also promised support for implementing nurse-to-patient ratios in regional hospitals, ensuring the system starts on time on May 1, 2028. Furthermore, the Ministry will continue to expand support for the 'Medical Center Support Plan' to help young doctors stay in Miaoli through institutional incentives. (Editor: Guan Zhong-wei)