In the question-and-answer session held by the Legislative Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, Yeh faced inquiries of lawmakers on the Imperial Tobacco Group’s plan to install a manufacturing plant in Miaoli County, and on fake doctors employed by local hospitals.

Britain-based Imperial Tobacco Group, one of top four tobacco companies in the world, set up a major tobacco manufacturing factory in Chunan Town, Miaoli County in central Taiwan. The producer of Davidoff cigarette brand started production in Miaoli plant last year, drawing criticism from anti-smoking groups that it harms Taiwan’s image amid the fight against the hazardous tobacco.

In response, Yeh said that the DOH is not the governing authority over the tobacco company, but it does not support the act. The cons outweigh the pros since it was against the spirit of anti-smoking and would not create too many employment opportunities, said Yeh.

Yeh also emphasized that Taiwan would face criticism from other countries in future meetings of the World Health Assembly if giant tobacco plants are set up in Taiwan.

When asked by lawmakers whether the plant would create second-hand smoking pollution, Yeh replied that not that he knew of, but the plant may create air pollution causing discomfort to nearby residents.

As for the fake physician incident, Yeh said that although the authorities only require a report procedure of emergency back-up doctors, their qualifications should still be reviewed. Yeh added that the DOH will look into the incident.

Tainan prosecutors last week arrested five suspects part of a gang of fake doctors practicing medicine at 17 hospitals across Southern Taiwan. The hospitals accused of employing the doctors without checking their diplomas all claimed they were victims of a massive scam, reports said.

by Taiwan News, Staff Writer