Taiwan's Medical Landscape: Shifting Aspirations as Dentistry Surpasses Medicine

A Taiwanese Medical Student Reflects on Changing Healthcare Realities and Finds His Initial Dreams Challenged.

The medical profession has long been a coveted path for high-achieving students in Taiwan. However, following the 2025 university admission results, the Dentistry program's entrance scores surpassed those of Medicine, sparking reflection among current medical students. One such student, expressing some regret over his career choice on an online forum, highlighted a significant gap between the initial aspirations of a medical career and the on-the-ground realities.

The student, writing under the title "A Bit Regretful of My Life Choices" on the Dcard platform, shared his initial expectations. He envisioned a demanding but fulfilling role, where he could save lives, earn a decent salary, and care for his family. Entering the healthcare environment, however, unveiled a stark contrast to those expectations.

The student's post hinted at several contributing factors to the evolving challenges within the medical field. He mentioned the pressures associated with the responsibility of saving lives, the illusion of a comfortable salary often built upon demanding hours, and the challenges of dealing with the public’s expectations regarding the price and availability of medical care.