Health

Taiwan Considers Clinic Subsidies To Ease Holiday ER Crowding

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By Patrick Chen/Irene Lin

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During recent extended consecutive holidays, major medical centers across Taiwan experienced unprecedented surges in emergency room patients. Because most neighborhood clinics close during public holidays, patients with minor illnesses overflow into emergency departments. In response, Taiwan's health ministry is meeting with medical representatives to discuss adopting Lunar New Year-style subsidy models. The proposed incentives aim to cover holiday overtime wages for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and administrative staff, encouraging local clinics to remain open and help triage mild conditions away from overcrowded hospitals.