Taiwan cares deeply about the well-being of its medical professionals, echoing the World Health Organization’s designation of 2021 as the International Year of Health and Care Workers. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare)

Protecting and supporting health care workers is an integral part of the Taiwan Model for combating COVID-19.

Since coronavirus first broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, the health care profession has seen a tremendous rise in acknowledgement from members of the public around the world. “The global battle against COVID-19 has highlighted the critical role played by medical providers in saving lives, even at great risk to their own,” said Kao Ching-chiu (高靖秋), president of Taiwan Union of Nurses Association (TUNA). “The government and people have drastically stepped up their support for the country’s health care professionals. Being on the front lines of the battle against the virus is a major source of pride.”

Taiwan’s efforts to show appreciation for medical staff combating COVID-19 echo the World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision to make 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers. Approved at the 73rd World Health Assembly last November, the designation is intended to bolster support and protection for the health workforce for the remainder of the pandemic and beyond.

Statistics show that Taiwan has performed well in protecting its medical workers during the pandemic, with not a single loss of life from coronavirus among hospital staff. Overall the country has seen less than 1,100 confirmed cases as of mid-April, including 11 deaths. This is largely due to the quick response by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), which issued guidelines for medical facilities treating COVID-19 before the first case was identified in the country on Jan. 21, 2020. Implementing measures ranging from installation of temperature screening stations at hospital entrances to proper procedure for donning personal protective equipment, the guidelines have greatly reduced the risk of infection for hospital staff and visitors.

At the end of January last year, the ministry took the additional step of requisitioning virus prevention supplies like disinfectant, surgical masks and protective clothing, which were distributed to medical professionals across the country. “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,” Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中‬) said.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)

High Preparedness

Despite the efficacy of measures taken to prevent local transmission of COVID-19, small-scale outbreaks have inevitably occurred, one of the largest being a cluster infection that broke out Jan. 12 at Taoyuan General Hospital (TGH) in the northern Taiwan city. Due to its proximity to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport—the main gateway to the country—the hospital has handled more suspected and confirmed cases than any other medical facility nationwide.

“We did many drills to prepare for such an emergency. Thanks to valuable support and guidance from the MOHW, under which TGH operates, we were able to rapidly respond when the crisis did come,” hospital superintendent Hsu Yuan-nian (徐永年) said. Ultimately, the outbreak was contained to only 21 confirmed cases, including six among TGH staff. Roughly 400 health workers, accounting for about a quarter of the hospital’s workforce, underwent 14-day quarantine.

TGH resumed operation Feb. 9 after mass-testing of all staff members to check for asymptomatic carriers. “It was a tough time for all of us at the hospital. Those who were quarantined were anxious about the possibility of being infected and lonely during their isolation period, while those who continued caring for patients struggled under heavier workloads,” said Chen Su-li (陳素里‬), director of TGH’s nursing department. “Everyone made sacrifices to ensure the hospital could return to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Boosting Morale

Yu Pei-yu (余珮瑜), director of TGH’s social work office, believes keeping up health workers’ spirits amid emergency situations like the January outbreak is critical. “They were able to keep going under immense pressure thanks to support from the government, which handled logistics and provided supplies, as well as from the general public, which sent in food and cash donations from around the country. A simple cup of coffee or a thank you card can go a long way in bolstering resolve,” she said.

The government has also been awarding bonuses to show its appreciation for the additional risk front-line workers take on. Physicians and nurses caring for suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases are entitled to NT$10,000 (US$357) per day. At the same time, staff at COVID-19 sample collection sites at 205 hospitals around Taiwan are eligible to receive NT$700 (US$25) for each case they handle.

Additional funds are going to medical facilities in recognition of increased efforts to maintain quality services during the pandemic. All 488 hospitals in the country can receive up to NT$5 million (US$178,570), while private clinics and public health centers are entitled to up to NT$130,000 (US$4,642). As per government requirements, a set portion of the money goes to essential workers ranging from emergency physicians to custodians.

Taiwan’s front-line health workers have had ample access to personal protective equipment throughout the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo courtesy of MOHW)

Other efforts to reduce the burden on medical professionals include postponement of license renewals, a measure put in place by the MOHW in January last year. Ordinarily, health workers must complete additional training every six years to extend their qualifications. The ministry has also temporarily suspended hospital evaluations to allow staff to focus on combating the disease.

Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the MOHW was already working to address the concerns of the country’s health care workers. Most notably, the ministry announced shift schedule guidelines for nurses in 2017 and opened an online platform the following year to provide an avenue for reporting workplace complaints anonymously. Submitted grievances are referred to local governments, which send officials to analyze the situation and resolve concerns.

Reforms of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) program to ensure its sustainability are also ongoing. According to Chen, the changes, which raise NHI premiums from 4.69 to 5.17 percent of an individual’s income, are expected to help retain the country’s medical workforce. The extra funds will go toward enhancing the quality of medical services and increasing pay for health care workers.

National Image

Taiwan is dedicated to upholding the safety and well-being of its medical professionals, who in turn help raise the country’s profile on the world stage. In recognition of how critical such workers have been to the success of Taiwan’s coronavirus management strategy, they were among the very first to receive injections when the country began its COVID-19 vaccination drive March 22, with the additional benefit of further strengthening Taiwan’s front-line defenses against the disease.

“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. Despite this, 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,” Chen said. “Nonetheless, Taiwan is doing 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.”

The minister therefore calls for the world to voice stronger support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the activities, mechanisms and meetings of the WHO. “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,” Chen said. Only then can the country fully share its valuable experience in the health care field. In the meantime, the country’s health professionals will continue ensuring that the same is true at home by providing top notch medical care for each and every citizen.

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