Taiwan is putting a lot more money into hospitals and nursing staff next year, which is good news for patients and health workers.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai says next year's "Healthy Taiwan" budget will be NT$10 billion, up from the NT$6 billion first drafted.
• The Cabinet first raised it to NT$8.5 billion, then the president pushed for the full NT$10 billion.
• The money is meant to improve hospital care quality and give doctors and nurses better pay and conditions.
• Separately, a new rehab ward trial under the national health insurance is starting with NT$300 million and 10 hospitals.
• The trial aims to give intensive inpatient rehab to about 1,600 stroke patients a year.

Outlook: The bigger budget still has to clear the legislature, and the rehab trial will likely expand to more hospitals if it works.