Taiwan launched the active preparation procedure to apply the network member at the end of 2010. Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan has been authorized as the corporate member that coordinates Global Network for Tobacco Free Healthcare Services in Taiwan since February 2011, including 11 hospitals as the associate member. Taiwan is the first national network group member in Asia.
Mean while, we held a workshop on 19th April, 161 people representing 112 hospitals participated. In the activities, 7 lectures were organized：
‧ “Smoke-free, Quality, Qualia and Innovation” presented by Board Director of Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives.
‧ “Concept of the smoke-free hospital certification framework” presented by Dr. Shu-Ti Chiou, Director General , Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Taiwan, her presentation mentioned about maintaining smoke-free environments, education and training of healthcare professionals, smoking cessation services, services in the community and schools, monitor and research, participating in and supporting national and international smoking-free network.
‧ “Experiences sharing for how to support healthcare workers to implement smoke-free environment and smoking cessation policies” presented by Taipei Medical University Hospital and Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital Ta-Lin branch.
‧ Two mental health hospitals (Changhua Christian Hospital Lu-Tung Branch and Jianan Mental Hospital), were invited. They talked about the smoking prevalence in mental disorder patients was higher than general population (male is about 50-60%, female is about 8-10%), through smoke-free hospital standards to implement smoke-free and smoking cessation, they found after these activities, the smoke prevalence decreased to 15% for male, 1-2% for female after these activities.
In the coming year, we aim to recruit at least 50 hospitals to join the Network. More training activities and collaborations will be initiated to promote the smoke-free culture & practice in healthcare settings.