NHIA expands outpatient program to seven daysBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporter with CNAThe National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) yesterday announced an expansion of the treatment duration for the Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program to seven days from five days, effective immediately, allowing people to reduce the frequency of hospital visits. NHIA Director-General Chen Liang-yu (陳亮妤) said that the OPAT program, which was launched last year, integrates inpatient, emergency and outpatient antibiotic treatment resources to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, enhancing hospital bed utilization efficiency. Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei TimesAccording to NHIA data, the OPAT program provides an option for some patients who need prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotics to treat infections, allowing them to receive intravenous antibiotics regularly at outpatient clinics instead of being hospitalized. Chuang Yu-chung (莊祐中), director of the OPAT Center at National Taiwan University Hospital, said that delays in treatment would be mitigated. With the extension to seven days, people can visit the same doctor’s outpatient clinic at the same time on Monday the following week, Chuang said.

Source: Taipei Times April 04, 2026 18:34 UTC