Taiwan is part of global health system

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

05/17/2007

Every year since 1997, Taiwan has applied to reenter the World Health Organization (WHO) because we believe the 23 million Taiwanese deserve to become part of the global health network. But mainland China has blocked our entry every time because of its outmoded “one-China” principle.

This year, once again, we renew our bid to enter the WHO, but with a new approach. While we will continue to seek observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the WHO, and ask for “meaningful” participation in WHO technical conferences, we will also apply for full membership in the WHO under the name “Taiwan” instead of the “Republic of China.” This three-pronged strategy, we believe, gives us a better chance to enlist international support for our campaign to enter the world health regulatory body.

The WHO Constitution clearly stipulates that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.” This is the reason it has granted membership or observer status to even non-state entities, including the Holy See and the International Committee of the Red Cross. But Taiwan, a democratic nation with 23 million people and home to the 17th largest economy in the world, continues to be excluded from the WHO because of politics, that is, the politics of exclusion practiced by mainland China. Doesn’t this clearly contradict the founding principles of the WHO?

Taiwan is a responsible member of the global village, and we are ready and willing to share our health resources with international community. Our health system has reached world-class standards, and we are considered the second healthiest nation in the world. And in the past decade, we have provided over 90 countries with more than $450 million in medical aid and humanitarian relief. Taiwan’s medical teams have gone overseas to work with local health personnel to provide efficient health care and protect the basic health rights of local people in times of disaster and medical emergency. In February last year, the Taiwan International Health Association gave medical assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of a devastating mudslide. The next month, we responded to an avian flu outbreak in Burkina Faso. In May, a team of Taiwan medical experts provided medicines and health care to earthquake victims in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. All these demonstrate our resolve to support the global effort to accomplish the goals of the United Nations and the WHO in assisting the disadvantaged and the underprivileged.

Health is an issue of global importance. It has become increasingly clear that infectious diseases such as avian flu respect neither politics nor national borders. All nations, therefore, have a duty to participate in international cooperation on matters of health.

Because of mainland China’s obstructionism, Taiwan is unable to become part of the global disease prevention network. This creates a big gap in the global health system that puts global health security in grave peril.

To build a secure global health community, all countries and areas must be integrated into the global health system. We must discard political prejudices and engage instead in dynamic professional health exchanges and cooperation.

When the 2007 WHA convenes in May this year, we ask the participants to adopt a humanitarian standpoint and to consider the interest of the world at large. We urge the international community to put an end to Taiwan’s prolonged exclusion from the global disease prevention and control network, and to give due importance to the 23 million Taiwanese people’s fundamental right to health.

Wellington Wei

Director, Press Division

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office,

41st Floor, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza,

6891, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

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