Dual-Minister Meeting Expected at World Health Assembly to Showcase Taiwan's Medical Strength
Ahead of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on May 18, Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are planning a dual-ministerial meeting to showcase Taiwan's medical soft power, said Vice Health Minister Lu Chien-te today. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi expressed hope for the world to hear Taiwan's voice.
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Central News Agency, Taipei, May 13 - Reporter Tseng Yi-ning
The World Health Assembly (WHA) begins on May 18. Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-te stated today that a dual-ministerial meeting between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the planning stages, aiming to demonstrate Taiwan's medical soft power. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi expressed his hope that the world will hear Taiwan's voice.
The Taiwan Medical Alliance Foundation held a pre-departure press conference today titled "Sailing to the WHO: Taiwanese Have the Right to Go to the World."
In his speech, Lu Chien-te pointed out that the significance of attending the WHA is to showcase Taiwan's strength, no longer with a victim's appeal, but by telling the world through Taiwan's soft power that the World Health Organization (WHO) cannot be without Taiwan.
Regarding Taiwan's significant medical achievements, Lu said the first is Taiwan's National Health Insurance coverage rate of 99.98%. In contrast, although the People's Republic of China claims to be a socialist country, it has not only failed to achieve universal coverage, but its medical standards are also deteriorating. He "sincerely invites Xi Jinping to come to Taiwan and take a good look at Taiwan's National Health Insurance." The second achievement is Taiwan's elimination of Hepatitis C by 2025, five years ahead of the WHO's target.
"Taiwan is definitely a model student," Lu said. This time, in collaboration with 31 medical institutions and manufacturers, and for the first time through a smart healthcare exhibition, Taiwan will showcase its precision medicine, advanced medical technology, and its current strength in AI, demonstrating to the world that "Taiwan can Help." Furthermore, a dual-ministerial meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare is being planned, hoping to showcase Taiwan's medical strength to the world and the WHO, particularly in smart healthcare.
Regarding whether both ministers will participate together, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stated that according to current plans, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang will definitely participate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also actively planning for Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to participate in this grand event through proper arrangements and creative means.
Chen stated that Taiwan is full of confidence after experiencing COVID-19, "We can make a contribution." This time, at the suggestion of Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, a Taiwan Smart Healthcare and Health Industry Exhibition will be held to help all parties truly understand that excluding Taiwan from the WHO is a loss for the world and humanity.
Chen emphasized that only Taiwan's democratically elected government is the sole legitimate government to represent Taiwan externally. He argued that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 do not mention Taiwan and are irrelevant to it, and cannot be used to exclude Taiwan from participating in the entire UN system and other multilateral mechanisms, including the WHO. Only by including Taiwan can the ideal of "leaving no one behind" be realized and ensure that there are no gaps or loopholes in the global health and epidemic prevention system.
As for whether Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will personally travel to Geneva to participate in the WHA action team's activities, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement should be taken as the official word. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150513
The World Health Assembly (WHA) begins on May 18. Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lu Chien-te stated today that a dual-ministerial meeting between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the planning stages, aiming to demonstrate Taiwan's medical soft power. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi expressed his hope that the world will hear Taiwan's voice.
The Taiwan Medical Alliance Foundation held a pre-departure press conference today titled "Sailing to the WHO: Taiwanese Have the Right to Go to the World."
In his speech, Lu Chien-te pointed out that the significance of attending the WHA is to showcase Taiwan's strength, no longer with a victim's appeal, but by telling the world through Taiwan's soft power that the World Health Organization (WHO) cannot be without Taiwan.
Regarding Taiwan's significant medical achievements, Lu said the first is Taiwan's National Health Insurance coverage rate of 99.98%. In contrast, although the People's Republic of China claims to be a socialist country, it has not only failed to achieve universal coverage, but its medical standards are also deteriorating. He "sincerely invites Xi Jinping to come to Taiwan and take a good look at Taiwan's National Health Insurance." The second achievement is Taiwan's elimination of Hepatitis C by 2025, five years ahead of the WHO's target.
"Taiwan is definitely a model student," Lu said. This time, in collaboration with 31 medical institutions and manufacturers, and for the first time through a smart healthcare exhibition, Taiwan will showcase its precision medicine, advanced medical technology, and its current strength in AI, demonstrating to the world that "Taiwan can Help." Furthermore, a dual-ministerial meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare is being planned, hoping to showcase Taiwan's medical strength to the world and the WHO, particularly in smart healthcare.
Regarding whether both ministers will participate together, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi stated that according to current plans, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang will definitely participate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also actively planning for Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to participate in this grand event through proper arrangements and creative means.
Chen stated that Taiwan is full of confidence after experiencing COVID-19, "We can make a contribution." This time, at the suggestion of Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, a Taiwan Smart Healthcare and Health Industry Exhibition will be held to help all parties truly understand that excluding Taiwan from the WHO is a loss for the world and humanity.
Chen emphasized that only Taiwan's democratically elected government is the sole legitimate government to represent Taiwan externally. He argued that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 do not mention Taiwan and are irrelevant to it, and cannot be used to exclude Taiwan from participating in the entire UN system and other multilateral mechanisms, including the WHO. Only by including Taiwan can the ideal of "leaving no one behind" be realized and ensure that there are no gaps or loopholes in the global health and epidemic prevention system.
As for whether Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will personally travel to Geneva to participate in the WHA action team's activities, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement should be taken as the official word. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150513