Senior and Mid-level Public Health Civil Servants Training Strategy Post-SARS Outbreak: Taiwan Experience

The experience of the outbreak of SARS in 2003 provided the opportunity for public health professionals to realize the Taiwan public health system has been kept stable yet outdated. This system was deficient not only in rapid mobilization during emergency but also in unified command and management system when crisis occurs. Since 2004, the Department of Health has promoted “National Health Administration Professional Development Plan” to strengthen managers' leadership skills thus bolster policy implementation by enhancing vertical and horizontal communications, integration among cross-sector agencies and between the central and local governments, and improving policy planning and evaluation with a holistic and systematic approach.

Recognizing mid-level and senior leaders as key elements of policy and organizational reforms, DOH developed several training models including consensus building, core competency, and team-building for various group needs. The focus in 2004 was to establish health vision and consensus post-SARS. In 2005, the emphasis evolved towards horizontal communication of critical policies, particularly on the exchange of services in health and welfare. DOH progressed to the enhancement of the ability of local health departments' staff on crisis management, resources integration, and strategic planning during 2006. DOH has also been concerned with possible talent gap in health professionals able to handle multifaceted international health affairs and therefore has steadily developed training programs and exchange opportunities to cultivate younger and promising health administration professionals.