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Executive Yuan to provide full support for medical expenses

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

The Executive Yuan held the second meeting of the task force for “the 0627 Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion”, hosted by Minister without Portfolio Ye Xin-Cheng, for inter-ministerial information integration and discussion to address the issue of subsequent rehabilitation and management measures of future large-scale activities today (30). Minister Ye indicated that it requires central-local cooperation to deal with this accident, and the urgent task at the current stage is to establish a medical treatment mechanism for treating a large number of the injured. Furthermore, the government will strictly pursue legal liability and financial responsibility against Formosa Fun Coast and the activity organizer. 
Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Li-Qun emphasized that the Executive Yuan activated the emergency response mechanism immediately after the accident occurred, and enjoined the Ministry of Health and Welfare to activate the “mechanism of emergency medical treatment for large numbers of injured people” and coordinate central government departments in the task force meetings to provide the best support for the injured and their family members. 
Minister Ye indicated that Premier Mao is especially concerned with the dire need for medical institutes for the injured. The Executive Yuan will provide assistance and request the front line medical personnel to dedicate their full strength for the treatment of the injured. Furthermore, the Executive Yuan will employ the second reserve fund if needed. 
The Ministry of the Interior indicated that currently there are summer youth projects held by the Ministry of the Interior and relevant departments in the Ministry of Education to regulate teenagers who participate in water activities, part time jobs and large-scale activities. The Ministry of the Interior will also enhance the inspection of teenagers’ participation in large-scale activities in the future. In addition, the flammable powders have been totally banned in large-scale activities pursuant to the requirement set forth in the Fire Services Act. As to the large-scale activities held by non-governmental organizations, no such regulation is enforced in accordance with current laws at this moment. The Ministry of the Interior will invite related departments and institutions, such as the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of Culture, etc., to discuss relevant regulations. 
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications indicated that they will review the current “Regulations Governing Amusement Park Enterprises”, and, together with the Tourism and Travel Department of the New Taipei City Government, the Ministry of Justice, the Financial Supervisory Commission and the Consumers Protection Committee, will assist the victims in the accident to deal with the aftermath, including filing subsequent lawsuits, settlement of insurance claims, and the like; in addition, the Tourism Bureau will hold a jointly-supervised inspection implemented by related departments of the central government, including units of construction management, fire control, sanitation, policing, environmental protection and labor safety and sanitation, in conjunction with local governments on July 6. 
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications indicated that all 24 theme parks in Taiwan will be inspected, wherein, those theme parks which have large numbers of tourists, mechanical and water facilities and large-scale activities will be inspected first. Those travel and tourism agents which do not comply with the requirement set forth in the tourism regulations or other regulations shall be penalized pursuant to the related laws or regulations; those whose cases are less serious shall be required to improve within a deadline, and those whose cases are serious shall be penalized on the spot. 
The Ministry of Health and Welfare indicated that next week would be a critical period for those severely injured. A medical consultant team has been established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare; experts in related fields are to be gathered to provide medical consultation and assistance, and a coordination mechanism for hospital transfers and medical referrals has been established. Based on the consideration of the best interests of the injured and medical professionals, the self-pay health care expenses may be advanced by the National Health Insurance; as to the health care covered by the National Health Insurance, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will exercise the right of subrogation against the company in charge. 
The Ministry of Health and Welfare emphasized that there are no concerns regarding the dispatch of medical resources. The ministry has set up a single window for dispatching medical supplies. As to the medicaments without a drug permit license, an import project may be activated to ensure no shortage of medical supplies will occur. To increase the number of available nurses to meet demand, other than those nurses in the hospitals canceling their vacations, the return of more medical personnel has also been requested. Moreover, the reimbursement for health care of the injured will not be included in the total amount of Health Insurance of the hospitals, so that the hospitals can treat the injured without any concern. The self-pay health care will not be charged to the injured and will be advanced by the National Health Insurance Administration, and the New Taipei City Government will reimburse the National Health Insurance Administration through a special scheme. 
With regard to the donations from all over the world, Minister Ye requested the Ministry of Health and Welfare to contact the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China as soon as possible. The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China will take charge of the donations from overseas locations, China, Hong Kong and Macao. Moreover, with regard to the donations of the long-term needed medical consumables, the Ministry of Health and Welfare serves as the single window, which includes utilizing and taking inventory of the medical consumables, and it will seek cooperation with the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China to deal with any donations or aid from overseas.