The health ministry in November last year launched a UCC program for providing urgent medical care over weekends and onholiday, aimed to bleed off emergency room overpressure. Shih said emergency room visits during the Lunar New Year holiday were typically 1.5 to 1.7 times regular levels, with the majority being non-critically ill patients. To encourage hospitals to set up extra beds during the Lunar New Year holiday, the ministry allocated NT$1.6 billion (US$5.1 million) for a bonus plan that increases consultation fees, pharmaceutical service fees and nursing fees during the holidays, he said. Cho said that the Executive Yuan would increase the funding if the allocated NT$1.6 billion budget is not enough. The emergency room and inpatient consultation fees, pharmaceutical service fees and nursing fees are going to be doubled during the holiday, she said.
