To address the health impacts of climate change and an aging population, the "Committee for the Promotion of Sustainable Development in Health and Medical Care" was established yesterday. It was initiated by the Legislative Yuan's Welfare Association and the Welfare Foundation, with co-organization of the United Daily. At its inauguration, the Committee proposed four major recommendations: enhancing public awareness of sustainability, strengthening green management in healthcare, stabilising the structure of NHI resources and workforce, and promoting healthcare decarbonisation through sustainable funding.
This Committee is the first platform to facilitate communication between the health and the sustainability sectors. Legislator Wan Mei-Ling (KMT) has been appointed as the Committee's convenor. She noted that climate change and the unbalanced structure of the NHI system pose serious threats to public health, and that an urgent reform is needed.
Professor Lin Chi-Hung, Superintendent of NYCU and Chair of the Committee, emphasized that understanding the impact is the essential first step toward building a resilient and sustainable healthcare system.
Many experts on the Committee raised concerns about healthcare workforce shortages. Dr. Chen Li-Chin, President of the Taiwan Union of Nurses Association, highlighted the severity of the nursing shortage and suggested that nursing manpower be included in the national sustainability index.
Legislator Su Ching-Chuan (KMT) pointed out that low salaries are the main cause of nurse attrition. He proposed a minimum monthly salary of NT$100,000 for nurses and NT$70,000 for other medical supporting personnel.
Dr. Lee Fei-Peng urged the government to resolve the long-standing issues of low reimbursement rates for healthcare services and the constraints of the NHI global budget.
Dr. Lin Chii-Jeng, President of the Joint Commission of Taiwan, emphasized that the NHI system is a key factor in the sustainability of healthcare. “A healthy Taiwan is the shared aspiration of all citizens and a consensus across all political parties. Achieving it requires cross-disciplinary, cross-ministerial, cross-party, and cross-generational thinking,” stated Mr. Jian Wen-Ren, National Policy Advisor at the Office of the President.
Dr. Lin Ming-Nan pointed out that hospitals have the highest carbon emissions among non-manufacturing industries. Increased carbon emissions worsen climate change, which in turn leads to a less healthy population, ultimately placing greater responsibility on hospitals for treatment and care. Some experts suggested that the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) should address the regional imbalance in healthcare resources.
The United Daily News shared the media's perspective. The healthcare system faces a range of challenges, including rising operational costs, strained NHI finances, workforce shortages, and a lack of government incentives. The United Daily News will continue to advocate for health sustainability, voice public concerns, and serve as a bridge for communication between industry, government, and academia.
【2025-05-29 / United Daily】
