With emergency rooms facing increased congestion, the Health Ministry announced Thursday that it will expand outpatient services for influenza-like illnesses and severe gastroenteritis at its 21 affiliated general hospitals nationwide. The move comes ahead of the Tomb Sweeping Festival and Children's Day holidays to ease pressure on emergency departments.
Effective immediately, an additional 924 outpatient sessions will be added each month. These expanded services will include morning, afternoon, and evening consultations from Monday to Saturday, with priority consultations integrated into emergency services on holidays. Scheduling will be adjusted based on patient demand to ensure timely treatment for flu-like symptoms, including fevers, chills, headaches, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The Health Ministry encourages individuals experiencing these symptoms to seek treatment at affiliated hospitals or designated clinics offering government-subsidized antiviral medication instead of visiting emergency rooms in order to prevent major hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. The ministry will continue to assess congestion levels and adjust its approach accordingly.
To curb the spread of illness, the public is reminded to practice hand hygiene, wear masks if experiencing symptoms, and minimize unnecessary hospital visits. These measures aim to protect public health and ensure medical resources remain available for severe cases.