Evaluation of Travel Medicine Services in Contract Hospitals, Taiwan, 2006–2019

DOI: 10.6524/EB.202401_40(1).0001

Li-Gin Wu^*, Ji-Jia Huang, Jiun-Shian Kuo, Yung-Ching Lin, Li-Li Ho

2024 Vol.40 NO.1

Correspondence Author： Li-Gin Wu^*

Abstract：

        For the last decade, the annual number of abroad travelers in Taiwan increased substantially. Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) has successfully established the International Traveling Integrated Service Contract Hospital (Contract Hospital) since 2006. The services include administration of vaccine importation under specific approval, issuance of international certificates of vaccination or prophylaxis, prescription of malaria chemoprophylactic medications, travel education of infectious diseases prevention and health consultation, health examination for students studying abroad, and group health education. In order to improve the accessibility and convenience of the services, at least one contract hospital had been set up in each county and city (including outlying islands). There were 32 Contract Hospitals in 2019.
        As of 2019, travel medicine services had been available in Taiwan for almost 14 years. However, comprehensive data was lacking. This research project aimed to review the travel medicine services in Taiwan from 2006 to 2019. Most of the Contract Hospitals are regional hospitals, which had been established for 7.6 years on average. People who travel to countries in Africa and Central or South America visit the travel medicine clinics most often and also administer most yellow fever vaccines. Most local health bureaus met the expectations of TCDC and reviewed hospitals’ government-funded vaccine stock management system and travel vaccines simultaneously. The majority of Contract Hospitals responded in the self-assessment indicated the increasing amount of outpatient services in the hospital in the future, showing that Contract Hospitals recognized the potential benefit of the development of travel medicine.
        Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, travel abroad and other travel activities such as business, studying, and volunteering are also affected. In the future, it should be based on the overall development of the global epidemic and domestic conditions, and timely adjustment of travel medicine development policy in line with world trends.