Taipei: The 21 public hospitals run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan will commence offering additional clinics from Thursday to address the overcrowding in emergency rooms (ER). These clinics are specifically for patients experiencing flu-like symptoms or gastroenteritis, the ministry announced in a statement.
According to Focus Taiwan, the newly established clinics will cater to individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea. They will be operational during the regular outpatient hours. The ministry emphasized that patients presenting these symptoms at ERs may be redirected to the clinics to reduce the burden on emergency services.
Wang Yuh-wei, a deputy CEO at the Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission, has urged the public to utilize these clinics staffed with dedicated doctors instead of heading to the ER. This initiative serves as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the upcoming four-day holiday for Tomb Sweeping Day and Children's Day in early April, following reports of ER overcrowding during the Lunar New Year holiday.