Taiwan’s advanced standards of care and symptom management for those with Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as Taipei City Hospital Zhongxiao Branch’s specialized ALS ward—the first of its kind in Asia—are attracting international attention.
At a forum held Aug. 29 in Taipei City by TCH in conjunction with Taiwan Motor Neuron Disease Association, participants exchanged ideas on ALS care and learned more about the merits of the hospital’s ALS ward.
Global ALS care figures like Carol Birks and Rachel Patterson, chairwoman and general manager, respectively, of The International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, took advantage of the special opportunity to expand their knowledge of Taiwan’s achievements in the field.
The U.K.-registered alliance is a nonprofit organization serving as a platform for the exchange of information on all aspects of the disease and providing support to member associations through networking and sharing ideas on best practices.
Birks said during the tour of the “impressive” TCH ward, which opened in 2006, that Taiwan’s experiences in assisting patients with ALS should be shared with the world. “The country serves as a model in providing leading-edge care for those with rare medical disorders.
“Unlike Taiwan with its dedicated wards, Australia mainly treats its ALS patients at home with regular visits to clinics and/or hospitals,” Birks said. “We can learn from Taiwan’s example, as well as its multidisciplinary approach to providing better services for those with ALS.”
Offering a humane, convenient and respectful environment for ALS patients, the ward also inspired the establishment of similar facilities at central Taiwan’s Taichung Hospital in 2012 and at southern Taiwan’s Tainan Hospital in 2011.
According to TMNA, around 460 ALS cases are registered with the association—a number rarely fluctuating year to year. TMNA believes that up to 1,500 people have ALS nationwide.
ALS attacks motor neurons, cells that control the muscles. Those with the disease may find it more difficult to walk or move without support, eventually losing the ability to breathe without a ventilator. ALS was named after Gehrig, a New York Yankees slugger who bravely revealed his condition to a packed stadium in 1939 before dying two years later.
Global awareness of the disease increased significantly in 2014 with the launch of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Millions of people, including entertainers, sports stars and politicians, dumped buckets of ice-cold water over their heads and posted the videos online. A total of US$115 million was donated worldwide during the eight-week challenge. (SCK-E)
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