Another problem is that the nursing staff placement standards are not followed in the field. Although the workload of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients has exploded, the level of personnel placement at medical institutions did not follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. According to the NHRCK’s survey, the number of patients per one nurse was 5.34 times higher than the recommendation in the COVID-19 ICU at tertiary general hospitals, and 3.18 to 5.71 times higher than the recommendation in COVID-19 dedicated wards for moderate cases. The shortage of nursing staff is not a problem limited to the case of COVID-19. During the 2022 National Assembly audit, there were 7,147 medical institutions that did not comply with the quota standards for nurses in the last five years, and as of 2021, 30.3% of all medical institutions did not comply with the quota standards. All tertiary general hospitals complied with the standard, but 53.3% of the hospital (30 to 99 beds) and 11.6% of general hospitals with 100 or more beds did not comply with the nurse quota standard.587) C) Tasks to Improve the Working Environment of the Nurses With the prolonged COVID-19, protection and support for nursing personnel have emerged as important policy tasks in the international community. WHO and ILO have published materials highlighting the importance of occupational safety and health norms during the pandemic—particularly, trying to provide a direction and share the best practices to ensure the safety and health of health care personnel.588) An interim guide jointly published by the two organizations in Feb. 2021 emphasizes that even during the pandemic, safe and healthy working conditions for health care personnel should be ensured, and measures to prevent COVID-19 infection for health care personnel should be taken based on risk assessment and the introduction of appropriate measures. It also pointed out that violence, harassment, stigma, discrimination, overwork, and insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), which are amplified in the midst of the pandemic crisis, are also important occupational safety and health issues. 587) Rapportian, Lack of nursing staffs at hospitals, unable to resolve it or not willing to resolve it? ‘Let’s Change the Medical Act,’ Nov. 3, 2022. 588) The WHO and ILO briefs are not limited to the nursing profession, but cover the entire health care workforce. 239