Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) yesterday said the DOH was considering classifying victims of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) poisoning as “severely ill patients” to allow them access to better medical services.
“I think special clinics will be established for them as well to ensure they are well taken care of,” Yaung said.
The minister made his remarks to Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) at a meeting of the the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee.
Tien said she had received complaints from several victims of PCB poisoning who said they had been turned away by some hospitals upon presenting their Bureau of National Health Insurance IDs, which identify them as “PCB patients.”
In 1979, students, staff and faculty members at Taichung’s Huei-ming School, a school for blind children, were poisoned by food that had been cooked with PCB-contaminated rice bran oil.
The victims suffered “chloracne,” a skin condition consisting of unsightly cysts.
Eventually more than 2,000 people in Changhua, Taichung and Miaoli counties were affected. Most of the victims were from economically marginalized areas.
“The tragedy took place a long time ago and many doctors today have no idea about the incident. But these patients should not be forgotten,” Tien said.
At the time of the poisonings, the Taiwan Provincial Government’s Department of Health set aside a budget of NT$5 million (US$151,000) to help victims, but the program ended when the funds dried up.
PCBs do not break down once in the body and can lead to organ failure and birth defects.
Patients must be continually observed and have regular blood tests.
Tien urged the DOH to help the victims.
“It costs NT$30,000 for a PCB patient to check the level of PCBs inside his or her body,” Tien said.
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