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MOHW forms a medical expert consultant team to fully assist the injured to survive the critical period

  • Data Source:Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2015-06-30
  • Last Updated:2017-01-11

The dust-induced flashover that occurred at Formosa Fun Coast in New Taipei City has caused 434 victims to still be hospitalized. Of the hospitalized victims, 240 are in the intensive care units of 52 hospitals in 11 cities and counties, including Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, Changhua County, Chiayi County, and Chiayi City. 

To properly provide further medical treatment for the victims who suffered extensive and complicated burn injuries, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) organized a medical expert consultant team for the Formosa Fun Coast incident on June 30. The team consists of 25-30 specialists in burn treatment and critical care, including specialists from Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, and the Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, who have gained considerable experience in medical care during the gas explosions in Kaohsiung, as well as the directors of the burn centers at major medical centers such as National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital, and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. The goal of this team is to help evaluate the appropriateness of transfer of the victims and provide the hospitals with professional medical care advice and experience during this crucial medical care period. 

In addition to providing professional medical assistance through the consultant team, the MOHW convened a task force meeting every day to gain an understanding of different aspects, such as medical treatment, medications and medical supplies, national health insurance, mental health, and social welfare. The MOHW also held a video conference with health departments and the six Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) under the MOHW every day to monitor the medical capacity throughout the country, including available beds in burn units and intensive care units and other medical resources in every city and county as well as the demand and deployment for transfer of patients, on a daily basis. The expert consultants employed by the MOHW were invited to join these meetings to provide best follow-up medical care in every aspect for the victims of this incident. 

The MOHW coordinated the efforts and mobilized the staff from central and local government agencies. Besides taking daily inventory of medical treatment capacity and capacity utilization, the Food and Drug Administration assisted with the supply and coordination of medical supplies and devices, the National Health Insurance Administration launched a special scheme to handle issues associated with medical expenses, and the Department of Mental and Oral Health of the MOHW initiated a psychological care mechanism for the victims, their family members, and the general public. These agencies have joined forces to handle future surgeries, rehabilitation, psychological therapies, and other tasks to offer the best care to the victims. 

Once again, the MOHW appreciates the assistance from all sectors, including the medical supply organizations that generously provided medical resources and the enthusiastic citizens who donated blood. The MOHW would like to especially thank the medical personnel at the hospitals involved for playing a crucial role in the emergency treatment and follow-up care of the injured. The MOHW also urged the public not to take up medical resources in the near future if it is not necessary, and it reminded people that the distribution and deployment of medical resources will be explained in a transparent and open manner. The explanations will be available on the official website of the MOHW for all sectors to search and access. People should not easily believe and spread false information, or trust folk remedies or other rumors to prevent harming themselves.