Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) announced plans for the establishment of six urgent care centers in Taipei and Taoyuan, aiming for a November opening to alleviate congestion in hospital emergency rooms during Sundays and public holidays.
According to Focus Taiwan, the centers are initially set to be located near major hospitals in both cities, which frequently experience overcrowding in their emergency rooms on those days. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang stated that the urgent care center pilot program was originally slated for October. However, the launch has been postponed due to pending budget discussions and other procedural requirements with the National Health Insurance Administration.
The program is expected to commence as early as November, with three centers each planned for the cities of Taipei and Taoyuan. These centers will operate mainly on Sundays and consecutive public holidays from 8 a.m. to midnight, offering services in internal medicine, pediatrics, and minor surgery, including wound suturing, X-rays, blood tests, and medication.
The locations for these centers have been determined, with two centers to be established at Taipei City Hospital branches due to sufficient space and suitable facilities. In Taoyuan, the centers will be located in regional hospitals that currently do not operate emergency rooms, with community medical staff providing the necessary services.
Minister Shih emphasized that the urgent care centers aim to treat noncritical cases, such as fever, diarrhea, or minor injuries, allowing patients to return home after treatment or be transferred to a hospital if necessary. He noted that similar emergency care centers exist in other countries, including the United States, Japan, and Germany.
