At noon today (7/5), the National Health Insurance Administration released the latest statistics of the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion. At present, 495 victims have sought medical assistance. Among the victims, 2 are reported dead, 434 are continuing treatment in 48 hospitals, 282 are in intensive care, and 237 are in critical condition. To ensure that victims receive appropriate care, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is actively assisting various hospitals in updating the availability of intensive care beds and handling referral requirements. Under the preconditions of referral safety and family consent, we have successfully coordinated the referral of 7 cases within 5 hospitals, thereby ensuring that all hospitalized victims receive appropriate medical attention. Currently, 951 medical workers are registered in the EOC Support Staff Integration Platform, comprising 58 doctors, 832 nurses, and 61 other medical personnel. The labor requirement of 51 medical workers (2 doctor and 49 nurses) requested by the various hospitals today are currently being coordinated to satisfy the labor requirements of the various hospitals. 

The MOHW would like to welcome those Japanese medical workers who have been invited to Taiwan to exchange burn treatment techniques and provide assistance and advice in our medical institutions and with our medical staff. The MOHW will endeavor to minimize administration procedures for and provide full support to the Japanese medical teams. In terms of the Emergency Disaster Medical Support Memorandum to be signed by the Taiwanese Medical Association and the Japanese Medical Association, both parties must follow local laws and regulations in their respective countries. Medical services--such as diagnosis, prescription, surgery, and anesthetics--must be provided by qualified professionals, while foreign medical staff may only engage in medical and nursing tasks outside core medical/nursing practices under the guidance and supervision of local doctors. Recently, numerous international groups have sequentially offered assistance. In review of recent major disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti, the cyclone in the Philippines, and the more recent earthquake in Nepal, international humanitarian organizations requested that volunteer groups initially contact and collaborate with the affected country to ensure the safety of the victims and medical teams. Therefore, the MOHW has adopted conventional international regulations. We will actively contact various medical institutions once inventories for assistance are received. If assistance is required, we will endeavor to minimize registration procedures and facilitate the rapid completion of relevant administration tasks. 

The EOC continues to monitor and manage the allocation of medical resources. As of today (7/5), the total number of available intensive care beds in emergency care hospitals nationwide is 915, including 227 in the Greater Taipei area, 106 in Northern Taiwan, 157 in Central Taiwan, 209 in Southern Taiwan, 167 in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas, and 49 in Eastern Taiwan. The total number of burn care beds nationwide is 44, including 1 in the Greater Taipei area, 4 in Northern Taiwan, 17 in Central Taiwan, 11 in Southern Taiwan, and 11 in the Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas. Moreover, the Expert Advisory Group is actively providing assistance. In addition to completing 7 medical consultation cases, the group assisted the MOHW in organizing an expert advisory meeting today, hosted by Director Chiang Been-Huang. A total of 19 experts attended the meeting. The meeting focused on providing suggestions on the collection and allocation rules for cadaveric skin. The meeting commissioned the MOHW Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to submit hospitals’ requirements for cadaveric skin and dressing supplies based on the collective burn area of their administered burn patients. The submissions will then be adjusted by the Taiwan Society of Plastic Surgery before sequentially transporting the supplies to the required hospitals. Cadaveric skin, which has gained considerable attention recently, is only one of the many options for treating burns. 

A review on the number of licensed plastic surgery specialists nationwide indicated that 607 specialists and 379 institutes (270 clinics, 108 hospitals, and the Department of Health) hold valid licenses. A total of 596 specialists are currently practicing. Among which, 293 serve in clinics, 302 in hospitals, and 1 in the Department of Health. The hospitals involved in the treatment of patients from the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion deployed at least 200 plastic surgery specialists to help. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital recalled 25 of its trainees to establish a 25-man volunteer team, and the National Taiwan University Hospital also established a 10-man professional volunteer team. These teams can be deployed to assist hospitals in need. 

The MOHW would like to once again thank members of the public for their assistance. We would also like to extend gratitude to the medical workers who have committed themselves to treating the victims' injuries. These staff members have assumed essential roles throughout the rescue process and subsequent care provision. The MOHW reminds medical workers to also pay attention to their own health, and to rest or seek medical attention if adverse symptoms are experienced. Moreover, we appeal to the public to value limited medical resources and refrain from unnecessary wastage. The latest information relating to the dust explosion incident can be found on the MOHW website. For general queries, please call our incident helpline at 02-85906199. To avoid injuries, please do not believe or disseminate false information, and do not be misled into trusting folk remedies or other rumors to avoid harming yourself.