Executive Yuan Premier Mao Chi-Kuo visited the Ministry of Health and Welfare today (the 29th) to listen to medical follow-up and handling reports on the Formosa Fun Coast dust flashover event. In addition to requesting that the Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates the medical expenses for the incident, Premier Mao also sought a more accurate understanding of and conducted deployment of subsequent financial and health care resources. He also enjoined the Ministry of Health and Welfare to confirm the number of victims, their distribution, and the numbers of beds, physicians, equipment, medicine, and physician workloads in the regions in which they are located in hope of giving every victim the most appropriate care. 

Premier Mao also instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish an ad-hoc group with the participation of representatives from professional medical associations. The ad-hoc group shall hold at least one press conference each day to explain the newest developments on the incident. 

Premier Mao also enjoined the relevant units of the Executive Yuan to integrate the relevant information on the Formosa Fun Coast dust explosion incident from each ministry as quickly as possible into an Executive Yuan Platform and display it on the Internet in a way convenient for the people’s understanding and inquiry. 

At the same time, Premier Mao is concerned with the establishment of a victim database and the sufficiency of the relevant medical supplies. The Department of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, has stated that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will update the latest data on the names of the hospitals receiving patients throughout Taiwan, the number of people in intensive care and general wards, and the resources and capacity available to each hospital every three hours and upload them daily. In addition, videoconferences are also being held with local health bureaus and EOCs to integrate hospital bed scheduling and hospital capacity. With regard to the publicly concerned initiative to “send southern skin northward,” among the currently usable skin materials, in addition to “sending southern skin northward,” artificial skin is also effective medically. Discussion regarding whether artificial skin should be imported from abroad is currently under way. The Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, has stated that with regard to the supply of medicinal materials, there are no concerns regarding the supply of medicinal materials and medicines required over the next three days. The volumes required over the next 14 days are also under control. Among the materials required, 10,000 bottles of anti-inflammatory cream, which is the most consumed medicine, remain. Businesses can produce more than 3,000 bottles each day. Additionally, skin materials and artificial skin are all readily available. The public can rest assured. 

Regarding the handling of medical expenses, the National Health Insurance Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, has indicated that expenses for treatment of injuries related to the Formosa Fun Coast dust explosion incident will be differentiated from health insurance payments. Additionally, during the three days between June 27 and June 30, if injury treatments require self-payment, these will be handled on an ad-hoc basis. 

The Department of Mental and Oral Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare, has stated that psychological counseling will be provided to the families of patients who are currently still in intensive care wards. For victims in general wards, psychological counseling will be provided for the victims and their families simultaneously. 

In addition to the reports from the Ministry of Health and Welfare during the visit, the participating physician representatives also indicated that the Formosa Fun Coast incident was caused by dust. Because dust adheres closely to the skin, once the temperature reaches 70oC, it will result in third-degree burns within a single second. Dust also causes inhalation burns. Therefore, the consequences are more severe than those of a standard fire. The first three to seven days are the most critical period for the injured. This is also the most dangerous time, and emergency treatment must be continued. With regard to the intensive card wards, the physicians attending the meeting mentioned that a viable system has currently been developed for the scheduling of intensive care beds among the various specialties in hospitals. Although the burden is heavy for health care workers, it remains within a schedulable range. 

Premier Mao expressed special thanks and encouragement to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and its personnel. He hopes that everyone can tide over these difficult times together and that the people nation-wide continue to cheer for the injured.