Protecting and supporting health care workers is an integral part of the Taiwan Model for combating COVID-19. (Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare Facebook)

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) discusses the government’s efforts to protect and support health workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Taiwan Model for managing coronavirus has received recognition from governments and organizations around the world. How does it protect front-line health workers critical to the country’s disease-prevention efforts?

Chen Shih-chung: The Ministry of Health and Welfare [MOHW] moved rapidly to safeguard Taiwan’s health workers, promulgating guidelines for medical facilities designated to treat COVID-19 patients before the first case was identified in the country on Jan. 21, 2020. Since then guidelines have been constantly updated to reflect circumstances on the ground. Protective measures range from installing temperature screening stations at hospital entrances to proper procedure for donning personal protective equipment, effectively reducing infection risk to a minimum for staff and visitors.

At the end of January last year, the government took the further step of requisitioning materials like surgical masks, disinfectants and protective clothing from manufacturers and established a distribution mechanism reaching hospitals countrywide. Thanks to this efficient system, Taiwan’s front-line health workers have never been placed in a situation where they had to fight COVID-19 with insufficient protection.

The World Health Organization [WHO] has designated 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers. What has the government done to show its appreciation and support to medical personnel helping combat COVID-19?

Chen: One major way we’ve shown our appreciation is by ensuring ample financial compensation. Physicians and nurses caring for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases are each granted NT$10,000 [US$351] per day, while staff at COVID-19 sample collection sites set up by 205 hospitals around Taiwan can each receive NT$700 [US$25] per case handled.

Additional funds are allocated to medical facilities to support continued quality services amid the pandemic. All 488 hospitals in the country can receive up to NT$5 million [US$175,438] and all private clinics and public health centers, which number more than 20,000, are entitled to up to NT$130,000 [US$4,561]. A portion of the money must go to individuals involved in daily operation of the medical facilities, from emergency physicians to custodians.

The MOHW has also eased pressure on health care workers during the pandemic by postponing license renewals as of January last year. In normal times, all professionals in the medical sector must renew their qualifications every six years by completing further training. Additionally, we have temporarily suspended the regular practice of evaluating hospital performance to allow health workers to concentrate their energy on battling the disease.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung calls for the world to give stronger support to Taiwan’s bid to participate in the World Health Organization and related activities. (Photo by Lin Min-hsuan)

How has the government worked to boost health workers’ morale during these challenging times?

Chen: For starters, the MOHW takes the issue of excessive workloads incredibly seriously. In 2017 the ministry announced guidelines for setting up reasonable shift schedules and opened an online platform the following year to provide a portal for reporting workrelated complaints anonymously. Submitted grievances are referred to local governments, which send officials to the affected workplace to view the situation firsthand and resolve concerns.

Furthermore, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance [NHI] premiums, which are set as a proportion of an individual’s income, have been raised from 4.69 to 5.17 percent as of Jan. 1. This revision is expected to enhance the quality of medical services and boost pay for health care workers.

With dedicated health workers, solid government policies and a cooperative general public, Taiwan has implemented an extremely successful COVID-19 management strategy. Despite this, the countr y is still shut out of the activities, mechanisms and meetings of the WHO. Is this fair?

Chen: Taiwan has kept COVID-19 under control within its borders, which has allowed its people largely to go about their lives as usual during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the country has been constantly denied participation in the WHO for political reasons, creating a serious gap in the global epidemic prevention network and threatening worldwide health security. Taiwan has continued to do its part by providing medical equipment and materials to countries in urgent need and holding international videoconferences to share the Taiwan Model for combating COVID-19.

We call for the world to voice stronger support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO and all related activities. Only then can we fully share with the world valuable health care experience such as our epidemic prevention measures and highly successful NHI program. Taiwan Can Help the international community realize the WHO’s vision of health as a fundamental human right and the U.N.’s promise to Leave No One Behind as part of its Sustainable Development Goals.

2021 WHA