The Challenge of Poison Control Centers in Asia-Pacific

Since late 80s, Poison Control Center has been created step by step among countries in Asia-Pacific, under the promotion and technical assistance of IPCS/WHO. Agriculture is one of the major industries universally prevalent in AP region, pesticides is easily accessible to the general public in almost every country. The morbidity and mortality associated with pesticides exposures, more with intentional, undoubtedly, being an important issue for the emergency physicians and public health sector. Food poisonings, snake bite poisonings also raised another significant public health concern in certain countries. Overdose with neuropsychiatric medications seems to be another common issue identified as well. Chemical poisonings of homicide related is also can not be ignored in certain countries. The preparedness and supply of antidotes does require specific attention in developing countries. Does the difference of culture, concept and awareness of poisoning, nature and types of poisons and the way of poisoning management will reflect the variation of the need of PCC in the whole region as well as each individual country? We will demonstrate the form at and experience which we have practiced in the past 25 years in Taiwan for discussion. Comparing with the western, the booming up of economics together with the increasing of poisonings in AP region, the very limited number of PCC in operation does reflect a need for an expansion of the service and research of PCC activity. However, at this stage, with a limited resources, how to network each individual center and harmonize the development of each other to maximize its function and capacity, to fit the service need, shall be considered desperately by all the leadership of PCC in AP region.