Medical professionals were yesterday given the green light to practice in China as Taiwan opened itself to three further categories of Chinese professionals for the purpose of cross-strait civil exchanges, in addition to the 16 professions given the go-ahead in 1998.
"Considering that domestic medical personnel wish to go to China to work and to expand aspects of cross-strait civil exchanges, we have decided to ease current regulations," said Chen Ming-tong (
The three fields open to exchanges with Chinese professionals for the first time are property and construction, consumer protection and social welfare.
Chen announced the liberalization in a news conference yesterday after attending an inter-ministerial meeting in which the regulations -- administrative orders which do not require legislative approval -- were approved.
"Another reason to let medical personnel to work in China is because some Taiwanese businessmen and their families express the wish to be treated by Taiwanese doctors if they fall sick since medical treatment in China is not as developed," said Jeff Yang (
Yang told assembled reporters that China's regulations allow Taiwanese doctors and nurses to work there.
He added, however, if medical personnel who practice as doctors or nurses in China violate Taiwan's domestic medical regulations or harm the nations interests, they would have their professional certificates revoked and would be banned from traveling to China.
The 16 categories of Chinese professions allowed to travel to Taiwan for exchange purposes were introduced in 1998 and include educationalists, athletes, lawyers and agriculturalists. About 50,000 Chinese professionals travel to Taiwan each year.
The opening up of property and construction to Chinese professionals for civil exchanges follows the announcement in August that Chinese nationals may buy real-estate in Taiwan amid complaints that, without visiting the country, Chinese nationals have no way to inspect property before buying it.
Chinese nationals with the means to buy real-estate in Taiwan will now be entitled to apply for visas if invited by registered real-estate agencies.
According to Yang, detailed eligibility criteria will be outlined by the Bureau of Immigration.
Chen said cross-strait civil exchanges with Chinese professionals in consumer protection and social welfare should be expanded by allowing more diverse specialists to come.
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