To ensure the public has access to medical care and medication, 13 urgent care centers and more than 2,000 pharmacies opened on the very first day of the Lunar New Year. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) visited one community pharmacy in Zhongshan District on Tuesday morning to distribute red envelopes to frontline workers and thank them for their dedication. 

Per Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良), who accompanied the premier, the holiday period in previous years typically saw few clinics and pharmacies in operation. This year, however, given the nine-day length of the holiday, he specifically asked the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations (FTPA) to mobilize community pharmacies to come back to work early.

Accordingly, nearly a fourth of all pharmacies nationwide opened on New Year’s Day, roughly double the number in previous years. This allows members of the public, now on the fourth day of the holiday break, to conveniently access pharmacy services in their local communities. As the peak in emergency visits during the Lunar New Year typically occurs during the following days, especially on the second and third days, urgent care centers also opened back up on the first day of the Lunar New Year.  

The National Health Insurance Administration reminded the public that they can check the operating status of pharmacies and clinics through the Lunar New Year section of the NHI app. The agency also thanked the Cabinet for approving a NT$1.6 billion (US$51 million) Lunar New Year incentive program, which provides a 100% bonus for nine consecutive days on fees related to inpatient care, emergency services, pharmaceutical services, and nursing care. Pharmacies and clinics also receive additional incentives based on patient volume, encouraging people with minor illnesses to seek care locally rather than at large hospitals.