Press Enter to Main Content
:::
  • facebook
  • line
  • twitter
  • Print
  • Back

Statement of the MOHW ad hoc group in response to the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion

  • Data Source:Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Created:2015-07-10
  • Last Updated:2017-01-11

In response to the related needs of medical care and social welfare in the aftermath of the Formosa Fun Coast incident, the members of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) ad hoc group still worked as usual today (July 10th), even during the Typhoon Chan-Hom period. They are tracing and dealing with the arrangement of medical treatment capacity, the supplies of medicines and medical materials, and patient referrals, and helping to promote case-based care, social welfare and relief services for the family members of victims and the patients discharged from hospital. The details are listed as follows: 

1. According to the statistical data as of 12 p.m. today (July 10th), a total of 1,138 personnel (76 physicians, 995 nursing personnel, and 67 other personnel) were registered on the EOC (Emergency Operation Center) Support Staff Integration Platform. Until yesterday (July 9th), a total of 26 physicians had been requested by 12 hospitals (9 physicians were successfully matched, and 17 physicians were matched by each hospital). Among the nursing personnel who have registered as support staff, 100 nursing personnel have burn or critical care nursing experience. Up to now, 83 nursing personnel have been requested by 10 hospitals. After hospital staff scheduling, retiree recruitment, and platform matching, the arrangement of 17 support nursing personnel for 3 hospitals is being carried out today. No other personnel have been requested. 

2. At present, 1,081 beds are available in intensive care units and 37 beds are available in burn intensive care units. In consideration of the supply of the best medical treatment for victims, the respect of the opinions of their family members and other principles, and the assurance of complete appropriateness for patient referrals, the local EOCs have so far helped referral arrangements for 30 cases (26 cases have been completed, and 4 cases are being handled). 

3. The MOHW Medical Advisory Group have provided professional advice and help for 67 people in 18 events, and have visited 52 patients in 7 hospitals (4 hospitals in the Taipei area, 2 hospitals in Northern Taiwan, and 1 hospital in Central Taiwan),offering medical care consultation and encouragement, and confirming the outcomes of emergency management and medical resource investment in hospitals. The MOHW will continue to help with patient medical care for each hospital via the Medical Advisory Group in the future. 

4. Currently the care service of inpatients and their relatives is mainly managed by the volunteers in each hospital, and the dispatch officers from the Social Welfare Department, the New Taipei City Government and other units are visiting each hospital to provide help. The case-based care service for patients discharged from hospitals is co-managed by the Department of Social Work, and the Social and Family Affairs Administration, MOHW, and the New Taipei City Government, and a care responsibility system has been adopted. The MOHW has set up the 8590-6199 counseling hotline and the 1957 welfare counseling hotline to provide relevant counseling services for the family members of victims and citizens. 

5. Arrangement and supply conditions of medicines and medical materials: 
(1) Cadaveric skin with a total area of 700,000 cm2 has been purchased in the first stage (240,000 cm2 has been supplied, 84,500 cm2 can be transported, and 375,500 cm2 will be imported into Taiwan). Furthermore, artificial skin with a total area of 486,300 cm2 and multi-layered wound dressings containing silver with a total area of 3,944,900 cm2 have also been purchased. The total area of supplied and available wound dressings mentioned above is 5,131,200 cm2. The present estimated treatment requirement for these wound dressings is approximately 1,920,000 cm2 (it is calculated based on that a 1% burn area requires to be covered with 100 cm2 of cadaveric or artificial skin). 
(2) The stocks of burn ointments, albumin, medical dressings, gauze, cotton pads, bandages, and other medical materials required for burn treatment in hospitals and from suppliers can provide hospital utilization for more than 20 days. If the stocks are less than a 15-day supply, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the MOHW will immediately request the suppliers to expand production more quickly, or start an ad hoc group to import medical materials to replenish the stocks. 

6. Statistics of hospitalization and treatment for the victims of the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion: 
(1) As of 12:00 p.m. on July 10th, a total of 415 people (420 people yesterday) are continuing to receive inpatient treatment in hospitals (Taipei area: 298 people, Northern Taiwan: 67 people, Central Taiwan: 26 people, Southern Taiwan: 9 people, Kaohsiung and Pingtung area: 12 people, and Eastern Taiwan: 3 people). Of the hospitalized victims, 281 people (277 people yesterday) are in intensive care units, 221 people (224 people yesterday) were in critical condition, and 3 people have passed away. They are being treated in 47 hospitals in 13 cities and counties, namely: Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, Tainan City, Changhua County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Hualien County, and Yilan County. 
(2) According to the analysis of existing patient information, the average percentage of burned body surface area for the victims in this incident is about 44%: 249 people sustained burns to over 40% of their total body surface area (TBSA), and 22 people sustained burns to over 80% of TBSA. 

In order to care for the psychological pressure experienced by the family members of victims and the medical personnel, and the need of help for emergency problems, the MOHW has set up the 8590-6199 consulting hotline and the 1957 welfare counseling hotline to provide relevant counseling services. In addition, the MOHW has requested the hospitals involved in victim first aid and treatment to integrate the resources of volunteers and psychiatric treatment, and to adopt a care responsibility system for the extensive offer of emotional support and counseling services for the family members of victims and hospital staff.