EasyTicket During a major-holiday break, if your child falls ill or a parent urgently needs medication, start by using the Emergency Medical Portal E-Gen to find hospitals open during the holiday and on-call pharmacies. On public holidays, a 30% surcharge may apply to the basic consultation fee, pharmacy dispensing fee, and similar charges.
How to choose between the ER and a hospital open during the holiday
If it may be an emergency, call 119 first
If you suspect an emergency, ask 119 for help before trying to find a nearby hospital yourself. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and E-Gen provide information on open medical facilities through 119 and the 129 Health and Welfare Call Center, even during major-holiday breaks.
For mild symptoms, look for a local clinic first
As E-Gen recommends, for relatively mild symptoms, it’s better to look for a hospital or clinic operating during the holiday before going to the ER. ERs are for critical and emergency patients, so using a hospital open during the holiday can help you access the care you need sooner.
How to find care through the E-Gen Emergency Medical Portal
Set the facility type and visit date together
In E-Gen’s search for open hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, choose your area, then select hospital/clinic or pharmacy, the visit date, and the option for facilities currently operating. If your child needs care, selecting a department can help narrow the results.
Call ahead before setting out
Search results show addresses, phone numbers, and consultation hours, but operating hours can change. E-Gen also recommends calling before you visit. Once you’ve found a hospital open during the holiday, call to confirm the last registration time and whether it can see you before setting out.
Once the search criteria are clear, checking the pharmacy results in the same neighborhood after finding a hospital seems like the best way to cut down on the family’s travel.
Recommended order for checking an on-call pharmacy too
Plan where you’ll fill the prescription after the hospital visit
If you receive a prescription, switch the search type to pharmacy in E-Gen and find an on-call pharmacy. A pharmacy may be open during the holiday but unable to fill your prescription, so ask whether it can dispense it and when it closes.
Keep a note of medications for children and parents
If you’re planning a holiday outing with your child and parents, it’s useful to save the names and medication instructions for their regular medicines on your phone. Before the appointment, note when symptoms began and what medicines were taken; afterward, double-check the pharmacy location and the route home.
Comparing holiday medical-fee surcharge rules
The 30% surcharge doesn’t apply to the entire bill
Seeing a doctor on a public holiday doesn’t automatically raise the total on your receipt by 30%. Under the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service’s guidance, a 30% surcharge applies to basic consultation fees, pharmacy dispensing fees, and similar items. The amount you actually pay varies with tests, procedures, medications, the type of medical institution, and your coinsurance rate. (Source: Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service)
| Category | Holiday/night surcharge rules | What to check at payment |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals and clinics | 30% surcharge on basic consultation fees and similar charges | Test and treatment costs may be calculated separately |
| Pharmacies | 30% surcharge on basic dispensing fees, medication counseling fees, dispensing fees, and similar charges | Varies by prescription duration and medication cost |
| Nighttime hours | Weekdays 18:00~09:00 the next day, Saturdays 13:00~09:00 the next day | Check separately from public-holiday criteria |
Check the receipt line by line
Before paying, ask which line items include the public-holiday surcharge. If several tests or prescriptions are included, separating the holiday surcharge from consultation and medication costs makes the actual difference easier to understand.
A 30% holiday surcharge is not a flat additional charge; it’s the surcharge rule for specified covered services. Rather than assuming the total cost before your visit, check the receipt line items after your care.
Checklist before heading out with children and parents
Check three contact numbers before leaving
If you can’t find an open hospital or aren’t sure whether it’s an emergency, use 119 first; for medical-facility information, call 129; and for location and operating-hour searches, use E-Gen. If you’re with parents who aren’t comfortable using smartphones, share the phone numbers in advance.
Keep each family member’s information on one screen
- Check the phone numbers for the hospital and on-call pharmacy in E-Gen
- Call to confirm the last registration time and whether care is available
- Note when the child’s symptoms began and what medicines were taken
- Note the names of your parents’ medications and confirm that you have the prescription
- Bring ID, health insurance information, and a payment method
Holiday medical-care tips and FAQ
Can I leave based only on the hours shown in E-Gen?
No. The consultation hours shown in E-Gen may change, so you need to call ahead. Also ask whether the last registration time is earlier than the consultation end time.
Does a sick child always need to go to the ER?
You can’t decide whether a child needs the ER based on age alone. If you suspect an emergency, call 119; otherwise, call a hospital open during the holiday to confirm whether it can provide care.
Can any on-call pharmacy fill my prescription?
Operating hours, medication stock, and dispensing availability can vary by pharmacy. Calling ahead to confirm that it can fill your prescription can save you a wasted trip.
During a major-holiday break, don’t wait until someone falls ill to start looking. Save a nearby hospital and on-call pharmacy in E-Gen before your family gets together. Once you’ve called to confirm, you’ll be able to handle a sudden situation much more calmly.