Taiwan's WHO bid will help Somaliland become a full member

[Suldaanka]

Promotion of Taiwan's Participation in the World Health Organization

 

 

Minister of the Government Information Office Pasuya Wen-chih Yao today invited Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Tan Sun and Minister of the Department of Health Hou Sheng-mou to participate in a press conference for local and foreign journalists that focused on " Taiwan's 2005 Campaign for Participation in the World Health Organization. " Minister Yao stressed that the people of Taiwan should have the right to participate directly, separately, fully, and immediately in the WHO. He urged the international community to take a principled and conscientious stand and support Taiwan¡¦s efforts in participating in the organization.

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Chen pointed out that the theme of this year's World Health Assembly is "Make Every Mother and Child Count" Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO system, however, means that all of Taiwan's mothers and children cannot receive equal care and protection from the WHO. This is extremely unfair, Chen said. The people of Taiwan should enjoy the same health and disease prevention protection as people of other countries, and participation in the WHO by Taiwan would allow it to make even greater contributions to international medical and health cooperation.

 

Minister Chen further indicated that, from the foundations it has already established, Taiwan will continue to seek observer status in the WHA this year with the help of a motion from its allied nations. He especially called upon China not to say one thing and do another, saying that convening of the WHA on May 16 will offer an ideal opportunity to examine China¡¦s claim to be willing to help Taiwan or whether, in fact, it will continue to oppress Taiwan as before.

 

Health Minister Hou said that although in the past the WHO has not been able to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA under observer status, much progress has been made through the combined efforts of the government and people. He said continued efforts were needed in the future, especially in the following areas: Participation in or striving for Taiwan to be applicable under the amended International Health Regulations; establishment of an International Medical Care Management Center of Taiwan; and continued use of Taiwan¡¦s strengths in the fields of health and medical care, combined with non-governmental medical and health organizations, to jointly promote exchanges and cooperation with WHO member nations.

 

Minister Hou further stressed that Taiwan's accession to the WHO was in accordance with the principles of humanitarianism, justice, love, and peace. He said Taiwan is willing to actively participate in international medical tasks, will ensure transparency of information regarding epidemics in Taiwan, and will make contributions to resolve global health issues.

 

In introducing the materials for this year¡¦s campaign aimed at increasing international support, Minister Yao said that the GIO has produced two 30 second films combining this year's themes of medical relief, humanitarian care, and diseases transcending borders, which will be broadcast on major international media. The GIO has also produced an innovative handout, "Epidemics don't care WHO you are" which uses the picture of an innocent child¡¦s face to attract attention, and raise the idea that, in spreading, diseases do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, skin color, or age. This advertisement has already appeared in major US, Japanese and European media. The GIO is also making use of its long-term advertisement boards at JFK Airport in New York, Heathrow Airport in London, Frankfurt Airport in Germany, and Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taiwan.

 

Other recent efforts by the GIO have also garnered international support. These include activities such as President Chen's videoconference with members of the European parliament and international press, lectures, seminars, visits, letters-to-the-editor by GIO offices abroad, publication of special articles, and a website design competition.

 

In dealing with the issue of the name under which Taiwan seeks to participate in the WHO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Ying-mao Kao said during a question and answer session that the main hindrance is China's obstruction. In order to avoid disputes over political and sovereignty issues, in recent years Taiwan has adopted a professional and pragmatic attitude of seeking participation as an observer or non-member state. As for the name to be used, in addition to such suggestions as the Taiwan Health Entity, Taiwan Health Territory, or Taiwan Health Authorities, others have advocated the Health Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu in accordance with the model used for Taiwan¡¦s participation in the World Trade Organization. Kao said that the Taiwan government maintains the highest degree of flexibility on this issue, and hopes a consensus viewpoint can be reached through bilateral or multilateral negotiations. Kao did say, however, that Taiwan can in no way accept the name of "Taiwan, China" that China proposed recently during meetings with Taiwan¡¦s opposition leaders, since this was an attempt to diminish the international status of Taiwan.

 

Deputy Minister Kao further pointed out that Taiwan will again seek through its allies to motion for Taiwan's WHO participation on this year's WHA agenda. In an effort to minimize any impact on the discussion of issues, promotion of the case will be made in the most appropriate and reasonable manner. Kao said that, in addition to Taiwan, areas excluded from the International Health Regulations mechanism include Somaliland, Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, and Palestine . The year¡¦s World Health Assembly is expected to consider and pass amendments to the IHR. Taiwan will promote the inclusion of the words "Universal Application" into Article 2bis of the IHR, which would enable the IHR to cover all the world's people, including the people of Taiwan.

 

In answering a question from the media, Health Minister Hou said that medical care is a basic human right, which should transcend all other issues. He said that every physician, before receiving his or her professional license, takes an oath to treat all patients equally, without regard for ethnicity or religious background. He called upon Chinese medical professionals to adopt the same ideal when looking at the issue of Taiwan's participation in the WHO, and to "leave politics in the political sphere, and let health issues return to being just health issues."

 

Minister Hou stressed that, in terms of medical assistance, Taiwan has already moved from the role of recipient to that of donor. Whether in terms of foreign medical assistance and cooperation, or relief efforts after the tsunami in South Asia, the government and people of Taiwan have contributed significant moral support as well as material resources. Establishment of the International Medical Care Management Center of Taiwan is further proof of the nation¡¦s willingness to pay back to the international community, he said, and that it would be the international community's loss if Taiwan is prevented from entering the WHO.