EMS in Taiwan: past, present, and future

Abstract

Taiwan is a small island country located in East Asia. From around 1995 modern concepts of the EMS were imported and supported by legislation. Considerable progress has since been made towards the construction of an effective pre-hospital care system. This article introduces the current status of the EMS in Taiwan, including the systems, response configurations, funding, personnel, medical directorship, and outcome research. The features and problems of in-hospital emergency care are also discussed. Key areas for further development in the country vary depending on regional differences in available resource and population density. An analysis of the strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats of the evolving EMS in Taiwan could be an example for other countries where the EMS is undergoing a similar process of development and optimisation.

Fig. 1

The geographic location and topographic character of Taiwan. These features have influence on the further development of EMS in different districts (please see the text for detail). Note the picture was cited from Microsoft MapPoint Service Online. Accessed on 20 July 2008, at http://www.englishintaiwan.com/images/map_taiwan.jpg.

Fig. 2

Three models of EMS regional design based on population density. For models A, B, and C please see the text for details. The figure was modified from site below: “Taiwan: population density.” Online Map/Still. Britannica Student Encyclopædia. Accessed on 21 July 2008, at http://student.britannica.com/eb/art-73666.