Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/17
By: W. T. Chen and Lillian Lin
Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) The 19 medical centers in Taiwan have been treating a high 
percentage of non-serious diseases and large numbers of outpatients, who should go instead to regional hospitals or clinics for conditions such as colds and eczema, according to a report released Thursday by the Taiwan Healthcare Reform Foundation (THRF).
The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) pays the 19 medical centers in Taiwan approximately NT$900 million (US$27.76 million) per year in reimbursement fees for insured outpatients, THRF Deputy CEO Chu Hsien-kwang (朱顯光) said at a press briefing.
If patients who do not have a serious illness go instead to regional or district hospitals, or even clinics, it will ease the burden on the medical centers and save the medical resources for seriously ill patients, he added.
Upper respiratory tract infections, high blood pressure, fatigue syndrome, stomach problems, and skin diseases are defined by the THRF as non-serious illnesses. [FULL STORY]
