HEALTH RISK: Medical experts say a plan to recognize Chinese medical degrees could put Taiwanese at risk because China has very low standards of medicine
Taipei Times
Jul 28, 2010
By Vincent Y. Chao
Top medical experts strongly condemned any move toward recognition of Chinese medical degrees, saying it could have a severe impact on public safety and undermine Taiwanese medical standards.
More than 70 medical organizations have signed a petition urging the government to close a legal “loophole” that could allow Chinese doctors to practice in Taiwan in the near future.
Their voices found resonance with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which opposes an amendment expected to be raised by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus next month, paving the way for the conditional acceptance of Chinese degrees.
The proposed revision would mean the Ministry of Education would have to devise regulations providing for recognition of “education acquired in the mainland area” by both Taiwanese and Chinese students.
At present, only Taiwanese students and Chinese permanent residents in Taiwan are conditionally eligible.
The DPP has vowed to reject the revision over concerns that it would exacerbate a drain of talented Taiwanese across the Taiwan Strait and force Taiwanese professionals to compete with their Chinese counterparts.
National Federation of Associations of Physical Therapists president Chien Wen-jen (簡文仁) yesterday said it would be “completely unacceptable” if the revision passed without a clause expressly prohibiting medical degrees from being included.
The large gap in teaching, testing and standards between Taiwan and China would drastically affect the quality of medical services if students in China were able to practice in Taiwan, he said.
Such a move, he said, would eventually force local doctors out of business because of increased competition.
“If they [Chinese doctors] come, it will be a flood and some will drown,” he said. more …
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