(FWA 2025/11/2)If the public falls ill during holidays, most clinics are closed, forcing those with a need for holiday medical consultation to rush to big hospital emergency rooms, causing severe overcrowding. The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) announced on the 2nd that the “Sunday and National Holiday Urgent Care Center (UCC)” has officially launched. Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, stated that according to triage classification data, up to 80% of patients in big hospital emergency rooms are non-critical. Therefore, effective diversion is the first step to alleviating emergency room congestion. UCC is a key policy to help divert non-critical patients, reduce the pressure on medical staff, and reserve critical care resources for patients who need them more.
NHIA Director General Chen Lian-Yu stated that the issue of emergency congestion is complex and requires a multi-faceted approach. UCCs are set up to operate on Sundays and national holidays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight). Currently, there are 13 locations nationwide. If the public experiences fever, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, needs simple wound stitching, or has pediatric acute discomfort, they can choose to go to a nearby UCC location for medical treatment.
For the newly launched UCC, our editorial department has organized a lazy bag of relevant information for you regarding holiday medical consultation:
1. Should I go to a UCC? (Self-assessment of symptoms suitable for holiday medical consultation)
If you experience non-critical acute symptoms that require immediate attention, the following conditions are suitable for UCC treatment:
Fever: Fever, muscle aches, cold symptoms, headache.
Respiratory symptoms: Cough, sore throat.
Gastrointestinal symptoms: Stomach discomfort, stomach pain, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea.
Simple wounds: Wound treatment, wound stitching, mild burns/scalds, sprains .
Pediatric acute discomfort: Pediatric fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, simple wound treatment.
Note: UCCs cannot issue Chronic Disease Continuous Prescriptions. Patients who have just been discharged are advised to call their original hospital first; for other emergency situations, it is recommended to go directly to the ER or dial 119.
2. Other Common Questions
Q1: Is a UCC just an ordinary clinic? Is the equipment sufficient?
A: Depending on diagnostic needs, X-rays, blood tests, and urine tests can be arranged.
Q2: If the condition is found to be serious after examination, can the UCC handle it?
A: If the patient’s condition is urgent, complex, or falls under triage classification Level 1 or Level 2, they will be transferred to a referral hospital via a green channel.
Q3: Is the cost really cheaper than the ER?
A: Yes, the difference in co-payment is up to 600 TWD. Generally, if the public goes directly to a medical center emergency room without a referral, the NHI co-payment is about 750 TWD; if you choose a UCC, the co-payment is comparable to a primary clinic emergency service, which is only 150 TWD (Registration fee is separate, according to each facility’s regulations).
3. List of 13 UCC Locations in the Six Special Municipalities
Service Hours: Sundays and National Holidays, 08:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight.
NHI Co-payment: Uniformly 150 TWD. Registration fees vary by county/city as follows:
| City | Location (Hospital/Clinic) | ER Registration Fee | Address | Backup Hospital (For Referral) |
| Taipei City | Taipei City Hospital Linsen Branch | 80 TWD | No. 530, Linsen N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist. | TCH Zhongxing, Mackay Memorial |
| Taipei City Hospital Kunming Branch | 80 TWD | No. 100, Kunming St., Wanhua Dist. | TCH Heping Fuyou, NTUH | |
| TCH Xinyi Outpatient Center | 80 TWD | No. 116, Dadao Rd., Xinyi Dist. | TCH Zhongxiao, Tri-Service General | |
| New Taipei | En Hua Hospital | 150 TWD | No. 7-18, Sec. 1, Zhongyang Rd., Tucheng Dist. | Far Eastern Memorial Hospital |
| Yi He Hospital | 150 TWD | No. 49, Liancheng Rd., Zhonghe Dist. | Shuang Ho Hospital | |
| Taoyuan City | Min-Sheng General Hospital Longtan | 250 TWD | No. 168, Zhongfeng Rd., Longtan Dist. | Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital |
| Min-Sheng General Hospital Dayuan | 250 TWD | No. 2, Huazhong St., Dayuan Dist. | Min-Sheng General Hospital | |
| Da Ming Hospital | 250 TWD | No. 964, Sec. 2, Wanshou Rd., Guishan Dist. | Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital | |
| Chung Mei Hospital | 250 TWD | No. 95, Zhongmei Rd., Zhongli Dist. | Taoyuan General Hospital, MOHW | |
| Taichung City | Taiwan Adventist Hospital Shuang Shih | 250 TWD | No. 29, Sec. 2, Shuangshi Rd., North Dist. | CMU Hospital, Taichung Veterans General |
| Chia Chian Joint Clinic | 250 TWD | No. 702, Fuke Rd., Xitun Dist. | CMU Hospital, Taichung Veterans General | |
| Tainan City | Yung Chuan Hospital | 150 TWD | No. 169, Chenggong Rd., West Central Dist. | NCKU Hospital, Chi Mei, Sin-Lau, Tainan Hospital |
| Kaohsiung City | Wen Hsiung Hospital | 200 TWD | No. 132, Chaha’er 2nd St., Sanmin Dist. | Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital |
Note: Registration fees are assessed and set by the institutions under the guidance of local health bureaus and are consistent within the same county/city.
4. More Information and Inquiries
NHIA UCC Section: Detailed data and latest information.
Mobile Inquiry: Download the “NHI App | My Health Bank” to check holiday medical consultation information.
