Five Taiwan hospitals were recognized as 2020 GOLD Forum members by Belgium-headquartered Global Network for Tobacco Free Healthcare Services, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said June 19.
The facilities are Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County; En Chu Kong Hospital in New Taipei City; Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital in southern Taiwan; Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei Branch; and National Cheng Kung University Hospital in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City.
According to the MOHW, the five additions take Taiwan’s Gold Forum representation to 27 out of 66 facilities from 11 countries. To gain accreditation, a hospital must satisfy the highest level of implementation in the eight standards of communication; community engagement; education and training; governance and commitment; healthy workplace; identification, diagnosis and tobacco cessation support; monitoring and evaluation; and tobacco-free environment.
The MOHW credited Taiwan’s large number of GOLD Forum-recognized hospitals to the ban on smoking in health care facilities countrywide. The measure was implemented as part of amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.
Taiwan was the first country in Asia to join the network in 2011. It is an active member and regularly participates in activities and exchanges, as well as shares best practices. (TYT-E)
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