As the Chinese New Year holiday will last up to 9 days in 2012, in order to prevent interruptions in patients with continuous prescriptions for chronic diseases from receiving medications, patients who have prescriptions for medications overlapping with the Chinese New Year holiday (Jan. 16, 2012 to Jan. 31, 2012) can get their medicines as early as Jan. 12, 2012 (starting 9 days before the holiday); the BNHI has requested NHI-contracted hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies nationwide to cooperate and allow people to pick-up their medications early.

Under the NHI a “continuous prescription for a chronic disease” is a long term medication prescription prescribed by doctors for these stabilized patients with a chronic illness, and it is valid for 3 months from the date of prescription. The medications for continuous prescriptions for chronic diseases are to be dispensed in intervals. Each time the medication is dispensed by a pharmacy, a maximum of 30-days of medication can be provided according to the patient’s condition. If the amount of medication given each time is for more than 28 days, there will no co-payment for medications. According to the provisions of Article 39 of “Regulations for NHI Medical Care,” an insured person with a continuous prescription for a chronic disease is only allowed to get the medicines for the following month of the original prescription within 7 days of the end of the present medication period. With the coming of Chinese New Year holiday in 2012, the BNHI would like to remind patients with chronic illnesses that picking-up their prescription refills early is allowed when necessary, so as to ensure that patients can enjoy a happy holiday.