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Operations
In February 2014, Fiji’s Ministry of
Health submitted a concept note to
the TaiwanICDF focusing not on the
more conventional areas of health
care such as internal medicine or
surgery, but rather on mental health.
To confirm the project framework and
appraise conditions, the TaiwanICDF
proposed a Mental Health Care System
Enhancement Project, and suggested
that MacKay Memorial Hospital also get
involved due to the hospital’s long-term
connection with Fiji and the relevance
of its own operations to the project’s
potential operations. As per its project
cycle, the TaiwanICDF then visited Fiji
to conduct appraisals as part of the
preparation phase of the project.
As a member of the assessment
team and the chief of MacKay Memorial
Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, Dr.
Fang Chun-kai has been at the heart
and soul of the project. Dr. Fang and
the team not only visited Taiwan’s trade
mission stationed in Fiji and negotiated
with the minister of health, but were also
granted an audience with the country’s
president, highlighting the importance of
the project to the Fijian government. Dr.
Fang was also impressed by a visit to
the WHO’s Representative Office in the
South Pacific, gaining an understanding
of the implementation of similar projects
and further confirming the direction of
the development of their own project.
Taiwan’s Psychiatric Expertise To
Strengthen Institutional Functions
And Capacity Building
When asked why Fiji has been
emphasizing mental health care
and chose Taiwan as its partner for
the project, Dr. Fang points out that
political unrest and high suicide rates
among young people over recent
years have had a negative impact on
Fiji’s overall strength. Unfortunately,
the lack of training available to
psychiatrists in Fiji, conflicting training
concepts in nearby countries such
as Australia and New Zealand and
a “brain drain” of specialists have
posed a serious problem. Psychiatric
practices are well developed in
Taiwan, with one successful case
being the establishment of the Taiwan
Suicide Prevention Center, which has
significantly lowered suicide and related
mortality rates. The comprehensive
development of related psychiatric
health care systems and rehabilitation
institutions, as well as the provision of
training for occupational therapists in
Taiwan, have become the predominant
advantages attracting partner countries
such as Fiji in seeking assistance.
Dr. Fang also points out that the
project will aim to strengthen the
functionality of agencies and enhance
capacity building, explaining that in
terms of strengthening the functionality
of agencies, a suicide prevention
center will be established under Fiji’s
Ministry of Health. The project will also
help psychiatric hospitals in providing
psychiatric day care, and enhance the
functionality of psychiatric rehabilitation
associations, and the integration and
promotion of such functionality. As
for enhancing capacity building, the
primary goal will be to train personnel
in providing psychiatric treatment and
rehabilitation. Trainees will be invited to
Taiwan to attend professional clinical
training, enhancing their knowledge
and capacity in terms of occupational
therapy and case management. After
returning to Fiji, these former trainees
will serve as teachers, working as a
professional group and continuing to
spread their influence.
Dr. Fang has great confidence in
this first instance of cooperation with
the TaiwanICDF, and in Taiwan’s first
foray into mental health assistance with
a partner country. He is glad to have
observed both rigor and flexibility in
the TaiwanICDF’s approach toward
implementing its projects, and sees
this initiative as a benchmark for his
professional career.
“Fiji is the headquarters for health
care training in the South Pacific,”
Dr. Fang explains. “If psychiatry,
currently the weakest point in Fiji, can
be strengthened by setting up a local
mental health framework and adequate
systems, then this model could
potentially be reproduced throughout
neighboring island countries, benefitting
more than 20 countries in the South
Pacific. This kind of contribution is
something that no political force can
match!”
Fang Chun-kai, Chief, Department of Psychiatry,
Mackay Memorial Hospital
Taiwan’s First Foray into Mental Health
Assistance Hoping to Raise Overall
Progress in the South Pacific
Interview
3
