Consumer Communication and Advocacy
Section 2 Consumer Communication and Advocacy
Status
Sharing all the professional information regarding the monitoring mechanism for food and drug safety control and building risk communication to consumers through media is our goal.
It has enhanced the diversified communication channels. And that will be good reference for consumers to make any further decision.
Education advocacy is a long-term commitment. Good information contributes to make good decision. A variety of communication channels were built as following. (Table 11-2) How to let public media be the advocacy to support our advocacy programs and health concepts are our goals.
Table 11-2 List of health advocacy outreach activities from the FDA in 2013
Policy and Outcome
1. Diversified Advisory Services
(1) The call center number is (02) 2787-8200. In 2013, we had received 43,557 phone calls and 65% is inquiring regarding the food related issues (Fig. 11-1).
(2) In the director’s e-mailbox, we have received public citation and case petitions. A total of 10,617 cases were received in 2013. More than 50 % were food related issues. And all was resolved within five working days.
2. Consumer Risk Factor Concepts Advocacy
(1) Holding forums and activities through meetings and conferences will promote risk factor education. It has brought up the community awareness.
(2) TFDA has hosted legal conferences regarding the consumer protection. By proving advocacy programs, it will promote the understanding and prioritize the questions needed to be asked while any concerns come up. We had invited local communities and social groups “Health and safety risk concepts” workshops.
(3) In response to food safety incident on edible oils, the “Adulterated and illegal copper chlorophyll added oils incident” forum was held to promote the communication with consumers. We emphasizes communication and by providing public health education.
3. Food Safety and Health Advocacy
(1) TFDA had established food sanitary volunteering programs to amplify the post market investigation by on site visiting and instant feedback. We emphasize safe food advocates. Seminars as “National Food Hygiene Volunteering Education and Training”
Research and analysis type 3%
Others 6%
Drugs type 8%
Food type 65%
Medical devices and cosmetic type 15%
Risk management type Controlled drugs type 1%
2%
Fig. 11-1 Proportion of cases notified from call centre in 2013
were held. A total of 814 volunteers were trained. Famous chef Ajishi was invited and endorsed “National Food Hygiene Volunteers Rallying Press conference”.
(2) TFDA continues to update and to upgrade our informatics system. Further, TFDA has collaborated all the ministries, food management related facilities & departments.
Through all the media and news magazines, we shared the most current food safety information and advocate the “Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation”. In 2013, special websites were built based on current events when the “Maleic Anhydride Modified Starch” and “Adulterated and illegally added copper chlorophyll oils”
incidents happened.
(3) TFDA has conducted programs like the “Seeds planting for elementary school teachers to cultivate right food safety concepts to our young generations”. We have provided trainings regarding food poisoning prevention, proper food storage and all the food safety and risk factors concepts.
(4) Through activities such as the International Food Fair, vegetarian food Fair, Taichung International Tea, Coffee and Bakery Show (TCFB Taichung), TFDA added fun into our advocacy programs, By interactive games and simple charts, we shared food and safety policies, prevention of food poisoning, and proper food storage information with the demonstration. And we also shared the consumer tips about how to choose the package food items. All the food incidents were used as examples for consumer advocacy.
4. Drug Safety Advocacy and Pharmacist Care Services
(1) TFDA has produced the public health video to advertise the importance of drug safety.
The content of the video is in coordination with the "Executive Plan for Counterfeit Drugs Joint Banning Group, Executive Yuan". In the advocacy film "The illegal drug prevention – father and daughter story”, we emphasize that the public should never take any medicine without knowing it’s source and manufacturers.
(2) On September 25, the official "Drug Safety Day", a press conference for the topic of using drug correctly was held, and how to take analgesics appropriately was emphasized in this press conference (Fig. 11-4). On September 28, TFDA conducted a hiking activity named as the "Use Drug Correctly, Make Health Better". It was focus on the issue of analgesics use and promoted the five core capabilities and the “5-Yes and 5- No” principle of using drug correctly.
(3) There are 112 educational centers of using drug correctly, 22 certified data banks of drug resources and manufacturers, and 473 community-based drug counseling stations in medical institutions nationwide. Also, TFDA constructed 1,321 educational sessions to promote the concept of drug safety.
(4) In 2013, “The drug safety manual for Taiwan new residents” was translated into 4 different kinds of languages: Chinese, English, Indonesian and Vietnamese. Besides, TFDA hosted several numbers of educational seminars of drug safety for the new residents the physical or mental disabled, and their care keepers. Moreover, 60 seed teachers for spreading the concept of drug safety were well-trained in order to effectively promote the concept of using drug safely and correctly.
(5) According to the year 2013 national survey of drug use behaviors and habits, 18.1% of the public does not realize that different analgesics inhibit the different kinds of pain. Hereafter, TFDA has produced several public health advocacy films, posters and pamphlets to educate the public about the concepts and behaviors of using drug correctly.
(6) Pharmaceutical care services
a. In 2013, TFDA hosted 3 home-based pharmaceutical care and 6 software training courses for pharmacists. A total of 354 qualified pharmacists were involved in the development of pharmaceutical care services.
b. In 2013, 6 local Health Bureaus were chosen to conduct the local pharmaceutical care and home-based care services. The total number of 744 issues of drug medication was detected. Regarding the community-based care, the service assisted 401 cases and revealed 428 questions of drug medication. Above all, each question resolved can save NT$ 446 on the drug expenditures.
5. Drug Abuse Prevention
(1) Drug abuse monitoring and early warning
We have used diverse media for public health education to strengthen the drug abuse prevention network. In 2013, there were 19,535 drug abuse cases reported from medical institutions. The analyzed results were as follows:
a. The top three most abused drugs were heroin (13,458 cases, 68.9%), (meth) amphetamines (4,704 cases, 24.1%) and ketamine (1,421 cases, 7.3%).
b. In 2013, 6 Department of Health in various countries were chosen to participate in the promotion program of the local pharmaceutical care service and home-based care service. The total number of 744 issues of drug medication was detected. Regarding the community-based care, the service assisted 401 cases and revealed 428 questions of drug medication. Above all, each question resolved can save NT$ 446 on the drug expenditures.
c. Two major causes of drug abuse are “drug dependence” (44.7%), and “peer pressure”
(15.9%).
(2) Drug abuse prevention advocacy
a. TFDA has worked with 34 non-government organizations to conduct drug abuse prevention events including public health crosstalk, dance, drama activities and lectures
b. Digitalized all the education resources will increase public awareness of drug-abuse.
TFDA set up databank and digital anti-drug abuse resources and make it available for the public. TFDA have provided all the current drug related science information and people education materials.
c. The film “Say No to Ketamine - toilet life story”, “Using Ketamine is a game we cannot afford” had showed in more than 700 cinemas and the short anti-drug film,
“Take Ketamine, Diapers for Life” had played in the TVs in the Taipei MRT platforms.
d. TFDA has set up 6 anti-drug educational resources centers all over the country.
Posters, newsletters and brochures were made for the “Four ways to reverse drugs' damage”, “Five capabilities to correctly use sedative hypnotics” programs. Public health education is reinforced.
6. Advocacy for the Safe Selection of Medical Devices and Cosmetics
(1) TFDA conducted the press conferences on “carefully recognizing the product licenseand reading the labeling will facilitate your selection of medical devices with ease”, “With the right wound dressing, wound care is fast and good!” product educational films and posters on “Medical devices protect your life”, “Love your family, take care of yourself, and choose legal medical devices”, “Medical devices protect your whole life” and “How to correctly select and purchase medical devices” to public and broadcast in various media.
(2) FDA hosted press conferences for “Masked” men “Masked” women look here ~ facial treatment quintet, letting you be well-rounded! and “Magic hair care, so you have a way - safely select and use hair cosmetics”.
(3) The animated movie for “Proper purchase and safe use of cosmetics” was played outdoors in Ximending. And an “Internet Quiz Contest” was conducted. These activities promoted consumers’ knowledge for proper purchase and safe use of cosmetics.