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Thu, Jul 23, 2026 page3
Survey finds overreliance on clinics
- By Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNA
About 48.7 percent of Taiwanese go to outpatient clinics first for minor ailments, spending an average of 66.5 minutes on accessing care, a survey by the Taiwan Self-care Industry Association revealed yesterday
Another 69 percent are unsure what over-the-counter medicines are, including what kinds are available, dosing, use and safety considerations, it found
Pharmacists were the second-most commonent of respondents proactively consulted pharmacists in the past year, and only 6.7 percent considered pharmacists as their first priority for consulting on mild ailments, it found
Members of the Taiwan Self-care Industry Association pose for a photograph at a news conference in Taipei yesterday
Another 76.2 percent of those who use over-the-counter medicines read the packaging before purchase, while 92 percent agree that advice from a pharmacist is sufficient for minor ailments, association chairperson Tsai Yi-fang (蔡宜芳) said
The average time for accessing medical treatment for minor illnesses was 66.5 minutes, rising to 87.4 minutes for those aged 60 and older, the survey found
Tsai advised those experiencing minor ailments to first consult a community pharmacist for professional assessments and treatment recommendations, particularly as Taiwan’s healthcare system is expected to face increased pressure
The survey also found that 25.5 percent of respondents used artificial intelligence (AI) for health consultations
Tsai warned that AI can make mistakes and should only be used as aional
The US, Japan and the UK have already incorporated self-care into public health policies, Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Association chairman Lin Yi-chun (林憶君) said
If the government wants to achieve its goal of achieving a “healthy Taiwan,” it should encourage people to make greater use of community pharmacies, she said
The survey was conducted from June 22 to July 2, collecting 600 valid responses from adults aged 18 and older, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points
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