TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday that new measures, including the establishment of urgent care centers and extended clinic hours, reduced emergency room congestion by 22.5% over the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, per CNA.
The ministry said 232,397 visits were recorded at ERs from Feb. 14 to Feb. 21, down from 299,824 visits during the same holiday period last year.
Lunar New Year is typically a peak period for ER congestion. The MOHW introduced several measures this year after severe overcrowding in 2025 led to congestion lasting one to two weeks beyond the holiday.
At the time, the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine called for government assistance, highlighting what it described as the most serious ER congestion in history.
Cho Li-ping (卓琍萍), an official with the MOHW’s Department of Medical Affairs, told the media on Monday that authorities coordinated efforts to divert patients to private clinics, pharmacies, and newly established urgent care centers during the holiday, reserving ER resources for critically ill patients.
Cho said such planning was largely effective; however, the first week after the holiday remains a key observation period, with monitoring continuing through the 228 Peace Memorial Day.
Data showed peak ER visits occurred on Feb. 18, with 33,082 visits, a 27% decrease from last year’s holiday daily peak of 45,384.
Individual hospital data showed the number of patients waiting for admission at National Taiwan University Hospital and Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital hovered around 50, with a slight uptick on Feb. 22. During last year’s holiday period, those figures ranged from 80 to 100 patients.
Cho attributed the decline in ER visits and in patients waiting for hospital admission to the early rollout of contingency measures ahead of the holiday. While clinics were largely closed throughout the holiday in previous years, many remained open on Lunar New Year’s Eve and reopened toward the end of the holiday.
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said the Lunar New Year medical contingency plan will remain in effect until March 1 to ensure the daily number of patients waiting in ERs stays within an acceptable threshold.
