Taipei: Visits to emergency rooms around Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holiday decreased compared to last year, as more clinics remained open and urgent care centers (UCCs) expanded their capacity. This development was reported by Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) on Monday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the number of hospital ER visits from February 14 to February 21 was 232,397, marking a 22.5 percent decrease from the 299,824 visits recorded during the same period in 2025. The decline is attributed to the increased availability of clinics and the expanded capacity of UCCs during the holiday, which helped manage mild cases outside of ERs, stated Cho Li-ping from the MOHW's Department of Medical Affairs.
The situation was monitored closely following the severe overcrowding in 2025, which the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine described as "unprecedented." To address these issues, the government allocated NT$1.6 billion (US$50.87 million) to encourage medical providers to remain open during this year's holiday, according to the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA).
NHIA reported that about 37 percent of clinics were operational on Lunar New Year's eve, with numbers fluctuating throughout the holiday. By February 21, 45 percent of clinics were open, a significant increase compared to previous years. From February 17 to February 19, clinic opening rates were roughly double those of the previous year.
For the 13 UCCs across Taiwan, the MOHW had pre-announced closures only on February 16 and February 21, while ensuring their operation on other holiday days to offer services in various medical specialties. During the holiday period, a total of 5,629 visits were made to UCCs, although this did not significantly impact the overall annual comparison.
While specific numbers for clinic visits were not immediately available, it remains unclear if the increased clinic and UCC operations fully absorbed the patient load or if there was an overall decrease in doctor visits this year. The UCC program, initiated in Taiwan's major cities in November 2025, typically operates from 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and national holidays to alleviate pressure on hospital ERs.
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang announced the extension of the Lunar New Year contingency plan until after the Peace Memorial Day long weekend to maintain manageable patient numbers in ERs.