Two National Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (國家災難醫療救護隊) were inaugurated yesterday at National Taiwan University Hospi-tal and at National Cheng Kung University Hospital to serve both the northern and southern halves of the island.
They will be capable of providing emergency medical services on dangerous scenes of serious accidents within 12 hours of being enlisted by the Department of Health and of working independently for at least three days.
The permanent staff of the teams will serve 24 hour periods on standby to the team.
They will be complemented by volunteers.
The Emergency Operation Center at the Department of Health is responsible for assigning missions to the two teams when disasters occur.
The team assigns a task force of 62 people, including commanders, spokesmen, medical professionals and logistics staff.
"The impetus to set up the teams was last year's 921 earthquake," Vice Minister of Health Chang Hong-jen (張鴻仁) said at yesterday's founding ceremony at Taiwan University Hospital.
"We learned a lot of lessons from the 921 quake and from other countries," Chang said.
"Without preparation, any medical work at the disaster area will be limited and will probably become a burden to the area," Chang said.
"In addition to serving Taiwan, we are also ready to help other countries as necessary and to realize the ideal of medicine without borders," said Director of Taiwan University Hospital Lee Yuan-te (李源德).
Both teams, led by two hospitals respectively, are inviting hospitals in neighboring areas to join the system and to form a disaster medical network in Taiwan.
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