讀後心得

Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital will take over the operations of the Municipal Datong Hospital in 2025, led by Professor Wang Jin-zhao, the head of the Internal Medicine Department, to strengthen lung cancer treatment and enhance medical resources in response to the central government's goal of reducing cancer mortality by one-third by 2030. Professor Wang stated that by introducing professional teams and improving medical services, they will provide more convenient treatment options for the residents of Kaohsiung City, while also striving to enhance community health awareness and expand specialty outpatient and specialty services.

The central government proposed the goal of "reducing cancer mortality by one third by 2030" in 2024, aligning with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "Three Arrows" plan to vigorously promote cancer prevention and control, both in political and civil spheres. Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital announced that it will officially take over the operation and management of Kaohsiung City’s Daitung Hospital starting January 1, 2025, introducing Chang Gung's resources to address the lung cancer treatment needs in Kaohsiung City. A professional team led by lung cancer expert Professor Wang Jinzhu will be stationed in the Department of Internal Medicine to enhance lung cancer diagnosis and treatment resources, aiming to establish a new medical hub for citizens and promote the development of cancer treatment in Kaohsiung.

Professor Wang Jinzhu stated his expectations that the collaboration between Kaohsiung Chang Gung and Daitung Hospital will support the Kaohsiung City Government in advancing cancer treatment and realizing the vision of a "Healthy Taiwan." According to the cancer registration report for 2023, approximately 28 people die from lung cancer in Taiwan every day, making lung cancer a "new national disease" in the country. The latest lung cancer mortality rate in Kaohsiung City shows that 1,298 people died from lung cancer in a single year, which translates to nearly two citizens being harmed by lung cancer every half day, with a mortality rate higher than the national average. It indicates that the treatment system urgently needs increased attention.

Professor Wang Jinzhu pointed out that despite Kaohsiung Chang Gung's cancer center having the largest cancer treatment capacity, distance issues greatly undermine treatment effectiveness. The narrow geography of Kaohsiung meant that professional cancer centers were not located in the city center, resulting in inconveniences for patients during the treatment process, increasing the burden on caregivers, and causing some patients to choose to abandon treatment. Many patients have to travel an hour by car to return to Chang Gung Hospital for follow-ups, which makes them feel frustrated and highlights that travel distance poses significant barriers to ongoing treatment for patients.

In the future, Daitung Hospital will bring in a professional lung cancer team according to the Chang Gung system, providing Kaohsiung citizens with more convenient medical options and planning to establish a "Daitung Hospital Cancer Medical Center" to respond to the municipal government's expectations with accessible services. Professor Wang Jinzhu emphasized that patients will be able to receive the same treatment strategies and professional support at Daitung Hospital as they would at Chang Gung, further improving the treatment environment in Kaohsiung City.

Looking ahead, Daitung Hospital will adhere to the Kaohsiung City Government's policy of "caring for the disadvantaged, equalizing medical care," helping to advance the central government's goal of "reducing cancer mortality by one third by 2030," while also focusing on the development of critical care specialties, smart healthcare, cutting-edge technologies, and long-term care services. Additionally, it will strengthen community public health medical services, regularly hold public health education activities to raise community health awareness, and, based on past service experiences and future positioning, expand specialized outpatient and specialty medical services, promoting the application of medical technology to better meet the diverse needs of Kaohsiung citizens, improving overall efficiency and healthcare quality.