Taiwan Fears 10th Consecutive Year of WHA Exclusion, 21 Medical Groups Urge Health Not Political
21 medical groups in Taiwan held an international press conference, calling for participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). With Taiwan possibly facing its 10th consecutive year without a WHA invitation, they emphasized that health care should be free from politics and urged the international community to recognize Taiwan's contributions to global health.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 14:08
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 14:31 (23 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 15:19 (47 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA)
(Taipei, May 8, CNA reporter Shen Pei-yao) With the World Health Assembly (WHA) approaching, Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation. Today, 21 medical groups raised the slogan "Safeguarding global health, Taiwan cannot be absent," urging the international community to acknowledge Taiwan's role and value in the global health system and emphasizing that medical and health care should not be politicized.
The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) is set to open in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18. Taiwan has not received an invitation for nine consecutive years, and if it misses out again this year, it will be the 10th consecutive year of absence.
The National Medical Association of the Republic of China led 21 medical groups in holding an international press conference this morning with the slogan "Safeguarding global health, Taiwan cannot be absent." They collectively chanted the slogan on site and read an English statement to the international community, calling on the world to recognize Taiwan's substantive contributions to medical and public health and humanitarian aid, and to support Taiwan's participation in the WHA in a professional, pragmatic, and contributive manner.
Chen Xiang-guo, chairman of the National Medical Association, stated that Taiwan plays an important role in global medical public health. In addition to demonstrating excellent epidemic prevention results during the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic, it also achieved the World Health Organization (WHO)'s goal of eliminating Hepatitis C last year. He emphasized that there should be no blind spots in global health security, and excluding Taiwan would be detrimental to global cooperation and epidemic prevention.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Wu-chiao Hsieh stated that during the WHA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will actively promote Taiwan's case, requesting allies and like-minded countries to speak up for Taiwan in various venues to demonstrate Taiwan's determination to seek participation in the WHA and WHO to the international community.
Hsieh added that this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also for the first time hold the "WHA Taiwan Smart Medical and Health Industry Exhibition" in Geneva, inviting over 30 Taiwanese medical institutions and smart medical industries to participate, showcasing Taiwan's top medical capabilities and industrial strength to the world.
Shih Chin-shui, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan will lead a delegation to Geneva to demonstrate Taiwan's determination to participate in the WHA. At that time, they will seek support from allies and like-minded countries through intensive bilateral and multilateral talks. Concurrently, during the WHA, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will also organize several forums on the sidelines, with themes including AI healthcare, cancer prevention, Hepatitis C elimination, and medical resilience, showcasing Taiwan's achievements in promoting smart medicine.
Representatives of the groups on site emphasized that health is a fundamental human right and a crucial foundation for global sustainable development. In recent years, from the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic, the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases, an aging population, to the multiple impacts of climate change on health, all indicate that the global health system must continuously adjust and strengthen. At such a critical turning point, the experience and capabilities of any country or any group of professionals should not be excluded from the international cooperation network. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150508
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(Taipei, May 8, CNA reporter Shen Pei-yao) With the World Health Assembly (WHA) approaching, Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation. Today, 21 medical groups raised the slogan "Safeguarding global health, Taiwan cannot be absent," urging the international community to acknowledge Taiwan's role and value in the global health system and emphasizing that medical and health care should not be politicized.
The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) is set to open in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18. Taiwan has not received an invitation for nine consecutive years, and if it misses out again this year, it will be the 10th consecutive year of absence.
The National Medical Association of the Republic of China led 21 medical groups in holding an international press conference this morning with the slogan "Safeguarding global health, Taiwan cannot be absent." They collectively chanted the slogan on site and read an English statement to the international community, calling on the world to recognize Taiwan's substantive contributions to medical and public health and humanitarian aid, and to support Taiwan's participation in the WHA in a professional, pragmatic, and contributive manner.
Chen Xiang-guo, chairman of the National Medical Association, stated that Taiwan plays an important role in global medical public health. In addition to demonstrating excellent epidemic prevention results during the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic, it also achieved the World Health Organization (WHO)'s goal of eliminating Hepatitis C last year. He emphasized that there should be no blind spots in global health security, and excluding Taiwan would be detrimental to global cooperation and epidemic prevention.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Wu-chiao Hsieh stated that during the WHA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will actively promote Taiwan's case, requesting allies and like-minded countries to speak up for Taiwan in various venues to demonstrate Taiwan's determination to seek participation in the WHA and WHO to the international community.
Hsieh added that this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also for the first time hold the "WHA Taiwan Smart Medical and Health Industry Exhibition" in Geneva, inviting over 30 Taiwanese medical institutions and smart medical industries to participate, showcasing Taiwan's top medical capabilities and industrial strength to the world.
Shih Chin-shui, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan will lead a delegation to Geneva to demonstrate Taiwan's determination to participate in the WHA. At that time, they will seek support from allies and like-minded countries through intensive bilateral and multilateral talks. Concurrently, during the WHA, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will also organize several forums on the sidelines, with themes including AI healthcare, cancer prevention, Hepatitis C elimination, and medical resilience, showcasing Taiwan's achievements in promoting smart medicine.
Representatives of the groups on site emphasized that health is a fundamental human right and a crucial foundation for global sustainable development. In recent years, from the COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) pandemic, the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases, an aging population, to the multiple impacts of climate change on health, all indicate that the global health system must continuously adjust and strengthen. At such a critical turning point, the experience and capabilities of any country or any group of professionals should not be excluded from the international cooperation network. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150508
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you give is a force for protecting journalistic freedom.
Download the CNA 'First-Hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.