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The Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (CSMU Hospital) and the Tuvalu Ministry of Health signed another medical cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021 to improve the quality of health care and medical personnel in Tuvalu, as well as to promote public health education to improve the basic knowledge and understanding of health care in Tuvalu. Due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji has suspended flights to Tuvalu, and Tuvalu closed its borders until November 1, 2021. The Taiwan Medical Program to Tuvalu cancelled the dispatch of resident dentists and mobile medical missions, but continued to assist in the operation of the medical information system, the national school oral health program, the dengue fever screening program, telemedicine consultations, and health care clinical education training.
In line with the Telehealth and patient triage policies of Tuvalu, the Taiwan Medical Program to Tuvalu conducted medical information system outreach through remote assistance and completed the linkage between Princess Margaret Hospital, Tekavatoetoe Health Center, and Lofeagai Health Center in Funafuti to maintain the integrity of medical records and allow patients to receive appropriate care. This also serves to improve the convenience of access to medical care. In collaboration with the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Dental Department, 1,429 pediatric dental exams were completed and the rate of caries was found to be higher than in previous years. The Taiwan Medical Program to Tuvalu conducted dengue fever screening with the Public Health and Laboratory Testing Department of PMH. 980 people participated in the screening and 41.8% of them tested positive for IgG, but negative for NS1 and IgM. In response to the public's health care needs, CSMU Hospital provided telemedicine consultation, including outpatient and inpatient consultations, and completed 116 visits, which is several times more than in previous years. Based on clinical learning and sharing, a total of 10 distance learning courses were developed to meet the demand for continuing education and training of medical staff, including the introduction of common disease care and epidemic issues to help enhance clinical care capabilities.
In line with advance deployment strategies, in addition to providing advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) on how to assist host countries in the "post-pandemic" era to strengthen their epidemic prevention capacity, the CSMU Hospital also coordinates and implements health education and advocacy activities in accordance with its annual plan.