NHIA Promises to Suspend New Clinic Two-Day Weekend Policy if Necessary
The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to reduce the standard monthly clinic days from 25 to 22. Concerns over ER overcrowding have led the National Health Insurance Administration to promise strict monitoring and the authority to suspend the policy if patient access is compromised.
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- 📰 Published: May 31, 2026 at 16:58
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 00:09 (7h 11m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 1, 2026 at 00:11 (1 min after Collected)
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has announced a revision to the reasonable outpatient volume for primary care clinics, potentially allowing clinics to adopt a two-day weekend. However, concerns have been raised that the new system could lead to overcrowding in emergency rooms. The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) reiterated today that it has established monitoring indicators for "Saturday ER patient volume" and "Saturday primary care clinic attendance rates," promising to suspend the measures if necessary.
The NHIA pre-announced a draft revision to the "National Health Insurance Medical Service Payment Items and Standards" on the 29th. According to the draft, the reasonable monthly outpatient days for primary care clinics will be adjusted from 25 to 22 days, and the first-tier patient volume will be adjusted from 30 to 35 visits.
There is public concern that if primary care clinics reduce their outpatient volume and close on weekends, patients with minor emergencies like sudden fever or vomiting might flock to emergency rooms, causing congestion. NHIA Director-General Chen Liang-yu explained to the media today that to avoid ER overcrowding caused by reduced weekend clinic hours, the NHIA and the Taiwan Medical Association have set up monitoring indicators for "Saturday ER patient volume" and "Saturday primary care clinic attendance rates."
Chen stated that currently, about 80% of clinics are open on Saturdays and 30% on Sundays. The proposal to adjust the reasonable monthly outpatient days was initiated by the Taiwan Medical Association at the end of May 2025, discussed through multiple meetings starting in June 2025, and passed in a joint meeting in March 2026. The MOHW approved it in May this year, with implementation possible as early as July 1.
Chen indicated that if there are fluctuations in the monitoring indicators, the Taiwan Medical Association will assist in coordinating clinic hours to ensure patients' rights are not affected. Since primary care volume and ER congestion are not necessarily directly linked, the NHIA will use the Department of Medical Affairs' ER congestion indicators as a benchmark for comprehensive monitoring, with rolling adjustments made every three months.
Chen emphasized that they will closely monitor the indicators based on the resolution and suspend the measures if necessary. The Medical Association has agreed to this, and it has been written into the joint meeting resolution. The NHIA aims to provide a more reasonable working environment for medical personnel while ensuring the public's right to medical care. Future payments for critical, severe, and rare diseases will also be adjusted, with a joint meeting scheduled for June to discuss these matters.
The NHIA pre-announced a draft revision to the "National Health Insurance Medical Service Payment Items and Standards" on the 29th. According to the draft, the reasonable monthly outpatient days for primary care clinics will be adjusted from 25 to 22 days, and the first-tier patient volume will be adjusted from 30 to 35 visits.
There is public concern that if primary care clinics reduce their outpatient volume and close on weekends, patients with minor emergencies like sudden fever or vomiting might flock to emergency rooms, causing congestion. NHIA Director-General Chen Liang-yu explained to the media today that to avoid ER overcrowding caused by reduced weekend clinic hours, the NHIA and the Taiwan Medical Association have set up monitoring indicators for "Saturday ER patient volume" and "Saturday primary care clinic attendance rates."
Chen stated that currently, about 80% of clinics are open on Saturdays and 30% on Sundays. The proposal to adjust the reasonable monthly outpatient days was initiated by the Taiwan Medical Association at the end of May 2025, discussed through multiple meetings starting in June 2025, and passed in a joint meeting in March 2026. The MOHW approved it in May this year, with implementation possible as early as July 1.
Chen indicated that if there are fluctuations in the monitoring indicators, the Taiwan Medical Association will assist in coordinating clinic hours to ensure patients' rights are not affected. Since primary care volume and ER congestion are not necessarily directly linked, the NHIA will use the Department of Medical Affairs' ER congestion indicators as a benchmark for comprehensive monitoring, with rolling adjustments made every three months.
Chen emphasized that they will closely monitor the indicators based on the resolution and suspend the measures if necessary. The Medical Association has agreed to this, and it has been written into the joint meeting resolution. The NHIA aims to provide a more reasonable working environment for medical personnel while ensuring the public's right to medical care. Future payments for critical, severe, and rare diseases will also be adjusted, with a joint meeting scheduled for June to discuss these matters.
FAQ
Will clinics in Taiwan move to a five-day work week?
The government is proposing to reduce the standard monthly clinic days from 25 to 22, but has established monitoring mechanisms to prevent ER overcrowding and may suspend the policy if necessary.