China Seeks to Recruit Taiwan Nurses

Some doctors and officials are skeptical many will resettle in China, but medical associations still urge action on a longstanding nursing shortage.

Transcript

00:00China's latest push to recruit Taiwanese talent isn't in the tech field.

00:04Instead, it's nurses Beijing hopes to bring over.

00:07China says it will offer 240 positions a year to nurses from Taiwan.

00:11Nursing is one area where Taiwan is especially vulnerable.

00:14There's been an exodus from the field in recent years.

00:17But the head of one of Taiwan's most prestigious hospitals says he doesn't see China as an

00:21attractive place for medical staff to resettle, whether in terms of conditions or pay.

00:25We can't be compared to others.

00:27We have to be better than others.

00:30The mainland will never be better than us.

00:32How can a socialist medical system raise the salaries of medical staff?

00:38If the U.S. or Australia were to take me over, I'd be more afraid.

00:45The health minister also says he's not concerned about nurses leaving the country en masse.

00:49We've been working hard.

00:52But this doesn't mean officials are passive.

01:04Both President Lai Ching-da and the legislature have promised to pay out more to hospitals

01:07from the National Health Insurance Fund, which might give hospitals the money to raise nurses'

01:12pay.

01:13Eight medical associations have come out together to urge the government to follow through on

01:16this promise, because Taiwan still needs every nurse it can get.

01:20Kama Xu and John Van Triest for Taiwan Plus.