Premier Lin Chuan said the government will continue strengthening the medical resources of offshore islands and protecting the health rights of island residents. The premier made the remarks today while inspecting the Ministry of Health and Welfare's (MOHW) Kinmen Hospital.
To make emergency medical evacuation services more economically efficient for the offshore islands, the Executive Yuan has tasked Minister without Portfolio Wu Hong-mo to work with relevant agencies and offshore island governments to procure aeromedical transport services from the private sector. Before the bidding process is completed, the Ministry of the Interior's National Airborne Service Corps will continue providing emergency air ambulance services as needed.
To address the insufficiency of medical resources on offshore islands, the government has been integrating central and local resources and making it a priority to expand medical services locally, Lin said. It is the government's responsibility to provide comprehensive medical care on the islands so that emergency and cancer patients can receive continuous care locally rather than wait for aeromedical transport services to Taiwan proper and risk the discomfort of air travel.
Lin instructed the MOHW to continue supporting medical services and enhancing the quality of health care on the offshore islands. With sufficient staff and a sound medical environment, more doctors will be willing to stay on and safeguard the health of Kinmen and other offshore residents.
The health ministry said it formulated a plan in 2010 to expand Kinmen Hospital and completed the expansion in 2013, adding a Psychiatry Building, a Medical Building, as well as numerous advanced equipment and facilities to enable emergency patients to receive examinations and treatment locally. Moreover, a cardiac catheterization laboratory set up in 2015 has to date diagnosed and treated 74 patients, offering timely and comprehensive care to patients of acute coronary syndrome.