THERE is a strange happening within the international sphere as it relates to Taiwan and the World Health Organization.
Now, I present a brief summary of the country called Taiwan.
Taiwan is a country in East Asia. It is located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Taiwan’s Capital is called Taipei City. Taiwan’s population is about 23 million people.
Indeed, it is important to understand that the People’s Republic of China or mainland China maintains that Taiwan is a province of China, whereas the administration of Taiwan maintains that Taiwan is a Republic of China.
Taiwan is the 14th richest nation in the world ranking 14th from a total of 193 countries.
We come now to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA) which leads international or global development of public health and the main international organization defending the right to health. In fact, the theme for world Health Day which was celebrated on 7th April, 2024 is “My health, my right”. Indeed, this is a way to advocate for every individual, everywhere, to have access to quality health services. And, Taiwan, as well as the whole world believes that health is a human right.
Now Taiwan is a leading world guru because of its experience in combating communicable diseases. By guru I mean teacher or leader in health care matters. Taiwan has fostered innovative approaches that bolster its public health system and well-trained healthcare personnel.
Indeed, Taiwan has met with considerable success in health care for its 23million people all over the world.
Now I can speak for Saint Lucia. Taiwan has been a steadfast partner of Saint Lucia and international community in defending the right to health of people in the world. Saint Lucia and Taiwan have forged substantive partnership in the medical and health care sector of our country. During COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan donated multiple medical protective equipment and supplies to our beloved country. Some of those supplies included ventilators, medical masks, protective gowns, rapid test kits, and so on. Moreover, Taiwan shared its experience in combating COVID-19 through videoconference and conducted seminars and various forms of training on a wide range of topics of pandemic.
During the two years of the pandemic, Taiwan delivered more than 900 wheelchairs and other assistive items to Saint Lucia. Taiwan is implementing Capacity Building Projects for the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases, which not only empowers Saint Lucia’s policy makers but also benefits the communities and individuals suffering from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Indeed, the Taiwan/Saint Lucia friendship or cooperation is an exemplary model which echoes to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of “Health for all.”
Now, in 2022 Taiwan ranked number 13 in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation. In fact, Taiwan has the best healthcare system in the world, according to the 2023 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index. Of the 110 countries surveyed, Taiwan’s health care came in 1st. place on the list, scoring 78.72 out of 100 on the Health Care Index.
Now despite making significant contributions to the global health security, Taiwan continues to be left out of the World Health Assembly.
In 2021, World Health Organization member states established a process to draft and negotiate a new convention, or agreement, and other international instrument on more robust future pandemic prevention, preparedness and response measures, now called the WHO Pandemic Agreement which document may be adopted at the upcoming 77th World Health Assembly to be held in May, 2024. Now while Taiwan is making a great contribution to global health security, it may be excluded from the agreement.
Indeed, despite making significant contributions to the world health security, Taiwan continues to be prevented from drafting and negotiating the WHO pandemic agreement and does not have ready access to pandemic related resources and materials of the WHO such as Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN).
Taiwan has world-class biotechnology and medical treatments that can contribute to global health security.
At this point, I would like to inform that the World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 22-28, 2024.
Now what is in it for Taiwan?
Taiwan’s quest for admittance into the World Health Assembly, is higher than ever. Taiwan is not sitting down, neither is it crying. They are making every effort to ensure that Taiwan gains admittance to the world body. Taiwan will be sending delegates to canvas participants on the fringes of the assembly, which is excellent.
Indeed, Taiwan has strong support now, more than ever before. The G7, the group of intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States will be providing strong support for Taiwan’s admittance to the World Health Assembly. Thirteen diplomatic allies of Taiwan are lobbying the WHO in favour of Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA. No doubt, Saint Lucia will be throwing its support in favour of Taiwan.
I predict, that 2024 will be the year that Taiwan will win its bid to gain admittance into the WHO (WHA).