After a health checkup, you are pushed to buy treatments or packages and want a refund, or you have had too many tests done. What to do? A look at consumer rights and complaint channels
When encountering disputes during a high-level health checkup, the appropriate channel depends on the nature of the issue: for consumer disputes such as fees or prepaid package refunds, call the national consumer service hotline 1950 (automatically transferred to the local city/county consumer service center) to file a complaint; for false or exaggerated medical advertisements or sales pitches, report to the local city/county health bureau where the institution is located; for medical disputes involving medical injury, according to the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act, you must first apply for mediation with the local health bureau. The following summarizes consumer rights, complaint procedures, and informed judgment that 'more health checkups are not necessarily better,' as a neutral consumer reference, not medical or legal case advice.
After a health checkup, I was pushed to buy self-paid treatments or health supplements. Can I refuse?
Yes. Patients have the right to be informed, to choose, and to decide: according to Medical Care Act Articles 63 and 64, before surgery and invasive examinations or treatments, the medical institution should explain the reasons, risks, and obtain consent; the Patient Right to Autonomy Act also protects patients' autonomy in medical decisions. If after the health checkup report interpretation you are pushed to buy self-paid treatments or health supplements, you have the right to fully understand before deciding, and the right to refuse:
- Request a written or clear explanation of the necessity, evidence, risks, and alternatives of the treatment, without being pressured on the spot
- Health supplements and self-paid treatments are personal choices; you can take the report and seek other medical opinions before deciding
- Be alert to exaggerated sales pitches claiming 'definitely curable, no risk'—legitimate medical care does not make such guarantees
I want a refund for a prepaid health checkup package, but the institution refuses. What should I do?
Self-paid health checkups and prepaid packages are consumer behaviors protected by the Consumer Protection Act. Articles 11 to 17 of the Act regulate standard form contracts and prohibit unfair terms; although there is no specific 'mandatory or prohibited terms' for health checkup packages, general standard form contract regulations still apply (fitness, gift vouchers, etc., already have performance guarantee provisions as reference). The order for handling refund disputes:
- First, file a written complaint with the institution, and keep the contract, receipts, payment, and communication records
- If negotiation fails, call the 1950 consumer service hotline (charged according to landline/mobile rates, not toll-free), transferred to the local city/county consumer service center
- If still unresolved, apply for consumer dispute mediation with the city/county consumer protection officer
If I encounter exaggerated efficacy or false medical advertisements, who should I report to?
According to the Medical Care Act, only medical institutions may publish medical advertisements (Article 84), and the content of advertisements is restricted (Article 85); improper methods of promotion are prohibited (Article 86, including exaggerated efficacy, claims of certain cure, etc.). Violations are subject to fines. The reporting channel is the competent authority:
- Report false or exaggerated medical advertisements to the local city/county health bureau where the institution is located
- Keep screenshots, promotional materials, conversation records, etc., as evidence
- Exaggerated medical claims on the internet and social media are also regulated and can be reported together
If I suspect medical injury from a health checkup or have a medical dispute, how should I handle it?
Medical disputes involving medical injury or quality are governed by the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act (effective January 1, 2024). The Act adopts 'mediation first': before filing a civil lawsuit, you should generally first apply for medical dispute mediation with the local competent authority; the same applies to criminal cases. Key points:
- Apply for medical dispute mediation with the local city/county health bureau where the institution is located (mandatory before litigation)
- Mediation is conducted by the medical dispute mediation committee of the local health bureau, with a duration of about three months
- Keep medical records, reports, receipts, and records; seek professional legal assistance if necessary
Is it better to have more health checkup items? How to avoid excessive health checkups?
No. Health checkups should be planned based on age, gender, family history, and risk, rather than having as many items as possible—too many unnecessary tests can lead to false positives, additional invasive follow-ups, and anxiety. Principles to follow:
- Government-subsidized five-cancer screenings (cervical cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer LDCT) are evidence-based and designed for high-risk groups; make full use of these resources first
- Self-paid high-level items (e.g., tumor markers, whole-body imaging) have indications and limitations; abnormalities often require clinical interpretation, not diagnosis
- Plan based on individual risk and doctor's advice; for abnormal results, first see 'What to do if health checkup report shows abnormalities' and discuss with a qualified doctor, without blindly adding more tests
FAQ
After a health checkup, I was pushed to buy a bunch of self-paid treatments. Do I have to buy them?
Not necessarily. Patients have the right to be informed and to make decisions (Medical Care Act Articles 63 and 64, Patient Right to Autonomy Act). You can request a clear explanation of necessity, evidence, and risks before deciding, and you have the right to refuse. It is recommended to take the report and seek other medical opinions without being pressured on the spot; be alert to exaggerated sales pitches claiming 'definitely curable, no risk.'
Can I get a refund for prepaid health checkup/health management packages? What if the institution refuses?
Self-paid health checkups are consumer behaviors protected by the Consumer Protection Act. Standard form contracts must not contain unfair terms. First, file a written complaint with the institution and keep the contract, receipts, and records; if negotiation fails, call the 1950 consumer service hotline (transferred to the local consumer service center) or apply for mediation with the city/county consumer protection officer. Actual refund depends on contract terms and usage.
I saw a health checkup advertisement exaggerating efficacy, claiming it can definitely detect all cancers. Can I report it?
Yes. According to the Medical Care Act, medical advertisements must not use improper methods for promotion; exaggerating efficacy or using exaggerated claims to solicit is illegal and subject to fines. Report to the local city/county health bureau where the institution is located, and keep screenshots or promotional materials as evidence. Exaggerated medical claims on the internet and social media are also regulated.
What is the difference between 1950, the health bureau, and medical dispute mediation?
1950 is the consumer service hotline for consumer disputes such as fees and package refunds; the city/county health bureau handles reports of false medical advertisements and conducts medical dispute mediation; for disputes involving medical injury, according to the Medical Incident Prevention and Dispute Resolution Act (effective 2024), you must first apply for mediation with the local health bureau before litigation. Choose the appropriate channel based on the nature of the dispute, and use multiple channels if necessary.
Is it better to have more health checkup items?
No. Too many unnecessary tests can cause false positives, additional invasive follow-ups, and anxiety. It is recommended to first use government-subsidized, evidence-based five-cancer screenings, then discuss with a doctor based on age, family history, and risk whether to add self-paid items; self-paid high-level items have indications and limitations, and abnormalities often require clinical interpretation rather than diagnosis.
How can I confirm that a health checkup institution is legal?
Health checkups are medical behaviors that must be performed by legal medical institutions or medical laboratories. You can check the institution's registration and personnel qualifications on the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'Medical Inquiry System.' See the page 'How to Verify if a Health Checkup Center is Legal' on this site for details. Pre-verification is a basic step to reduce dispute risk.
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not Medical advice, and does not constitute any diagnostic commitment.