By Pita Ligaiula in Taipei
As the World Health Assembly (WHA) convenes this week in Geneva, Taiwan is renewing its appeal to be included in the global health forum, calling out the World Health Organisation (WHO) for allowing politics to override public health.
Taiwan shares the WHO’s core belief that access to the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental human right.
The government continues to work toward this ideal domestically and seeks to contribute globally. Yet, Taiwan remains excluded from the WHA due to political pressure.
The WHO and its decision-making body, the WHA, continue to exclude Taiwan from participation. This exclusion denies the world access to Taiwan’s significant expertise and experience in the medical field.
Taiwan’s healthcare capabilities are well recognised by its allies, with whom it shares training, resources, and medical technology. As a global tech and healthcare leader, Taiwan believes it can play a vital role in building a healthier international community.
Taiwan argues that the WHA’s ongoing politicisation of health issues driven by pressure from China is a betrayal not only of the island’s 23.4 million people but of the global population of 8 billion and contradicts WHO’s mission of “health for all.”
On Monday, a group of international journalists visited Taipei Hospital to observe Taiwan’s healthcare system in action.
In response to a question from PACNEWS, Dr Daniel Lu, a consultant doctor at Taipei Hospital, voiced frustration over Taiwan’s continued exclusion from the WHA.
“It is actually unfortunate that we cannot participate in the WHO’s conference, given the progress we have made, and it’s a ‘shame’ not to share our experience and expertise in the health sector.
“With the progress we have made, we believe that Taiwan has all the rights to participate with the international community, despite unfriendliness from certain elements,” he stressed.
Dr Lu also addressed China’s continued distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which neither mentions Taiwan nor grants China the right to represent Taiwan within the UN system.
“We also believe that under the UN Charter, we have all the rights to participate in all the activities for the citizens and all the people in the world.
“We need to be part of the international community to coordinate, to share, and contribute for health for all,” Dr Lu said.
Taiwan continues to call for an end to its exclusion and urges the international community to prioritise global health cooperation over political interests.
