Taipei: A total of 169 patients were treated on the first day of an urgent care center (UCC) service that was launched Sunday in Taiwan’s six major cities, the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) said, citing data valid as of 4 p.m. that day.

According to Focus Taiwan, nearly 90 percent of patients were treated for fevers, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, and minor issues such as migraines, muscle strains, sprains, and nasal bleeding, the NHIA stated in a release issued Sunday evening. In individual cases, patients presented with unique issues such as a fish bone lodged in the throat and acute flare-ups of chronic diseases.

The NHIA reported that out of the 169 patients treated during the eight-hour period from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., three required transfers to hospitals. A total of 13 UCCs have been launched in Taiwan’s six major cities, offering services from 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays and national holidays. This initiative aims to redirect non-emergency patients and ease the pressure on hospital emergency rooms.

Highlighting the varying patient volumes at the centers, the NHIA pointed out that most UCCs treated one to 11 patients during the eight-hour period on Sunday, while the UCC at Yung Chuan Hospital in Tainan saw a significantly higher number, with 108 patients.

According to Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, around 80 percent of primary healthcare institutions across Taiwan remain open on Saturdays, but only about 20 percent operate on Sundays. This limited availability leads to an influx of patients at hospital emergency rooms during weekends. Shih noted that the demand for pediatric care especially tends to rise on weekends and holidays.

Shih stated that approximately 80 percent of patients in emergency rooms are usually not in critical condition and do not require hospitalization, referencing hospital data. The effectiveness of the UCCs will be monitored over the next few months, especially before the upcoming nine-day Lunar New Year holiday in February 2026. He mentioned that the service might be expanded based on the collected data.