Members of the medical sector voiced firm and clear opposition yesterday to the government’s plans to recognize Chinese academic credentials.
In a public hearing on the impact of recognizing Chinese academic credentials on the medical sector sponsored by three Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, delegates representing six professional medical groups unanimously opposed President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) plans to recognize Chinese academic credentials and recruit Chinese students beginning next year.
Shih Hsien-yen (石賢彥), chairman of the Taiwan Medical Association, said China’s medical education systems are notoriously chaotic and its medical school students normally do not get much internship training before becoming doctors.
Chinese medical practitioners and Taiwanese who have earned their medical credentials in China would not be able to provide quality medical services to Taiwanese patients, Shih said.
Tseng Hsiu-yi (曾修儀), a director with the National Union of Nurses’ Associations, said an influx of Chinese-trained medical personnel would lead to the quality of medical and nursing care being compromised.
In response to Shih and Tseng’s remarks, Shih Mei-chun (石美春), an official with the Department of Health’s Bureau of Medical Affairs, reassured the group that while the government plans to recognize Chinese academic credentials, the department’s stance is to keep the door closed to those who have academic credentials issued by China’s medical sector.
Wang Ming-yuan (王明源), an official with the Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education, said the ministry would respect the opinion of the health department and local medical professionals when planning to hire medical professionals.
Lin Kuang-chi (林光基), a department chief at the Ministry of Examination, said Republic of China ID card holders are eligible to sit tests in Taiwan for professional licenses.
“Chinese will not be able to apply to sit tests in Taiwan for professional licenses because they are not ROC citizens,” Lin said.
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