Objective To examine the development in healthcare workplace health promotion (WHP) in Taiwan through the Health Promoting Hospital (HPH) initiative. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a self-administered questionnaire, involving all 55 hospitals committed to the HPH approach (HP hospitals) as of the end of 2009; 52 completed the questionnaire. Results Fifty of 52 hospitals perceived a change in organizational capacity which mainly occurred in the areas of re-aligning strategies (96 %) and more resources (71 %). Regarding re-aligning strategies, 85 % of the hospitals engaged in increased staff participation, 66 % in staff-oriented health services. Conclusions The HPH initiative has led to new developments in capacity building of WHP among HP hospitals in Taiwan, and this study has mapped a pattern of such developments.