Taiwan's Envoy to Japan Urges Deeper Medical Cooperation, Support for WHO Bid in Op-Ed
Coinciding with the World Health Assembly (WHA), Taiwan's Representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, published an op-ed in Japan's "Sankei Shimbun" newspaper, calling for the deepening of medical digital transformation (DX) cooperation between Taiwan and Japan. He also highlighted Taiwan's achievements in smart healthcare and renewed calls for international support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and its related mechanisms.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 14:44
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As the World Health Assembly (WHA) commences, Taiwan's Representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, has penned an op-ed in Japan's "Sankei Shimbun," calling for Taiwan and Japan to deepen their cooperation in medical digital transformation (DX) and once again seeking international support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and its related mechanisms.
Lee pointed out that the world currently faces issues such as shortages of medical personnel and rising costs, making medical digital transformation a critical task for all nations. He noted that the Japanese government has established a Medical DX Promotion Headquarters to actively advance its medical digitalization policies.
He stated that Taiwan has effectively enhanced its medical quality and efficiency by integrating big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technology, while ensuring the secure circulation of medical data. Leveraging its strengths in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and its National Health Insurance system, Taiwan has built a digital health platform. This platform promotes the integration of electronic health records, AI-based risk prediction, and real-time medical and medication information services, which aid in the early prediction of chronic diseases and precision medicine. Through electronic prescriptions and telemedicine services, it also helps to reduce the healthcare gap between rural and urban areas.
He emphasized that Taiwan's achievements in the field of smart healthcare have gained international recognition. This includes 13 hospitals being listed in Newsweek's "World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026," the second-highest number in Asia. Additionally, Taiwan has been ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years in the health care index by the global living information platform Numbeo.
Lee expressed that if Taiwan's model of combining technology with its public health system could be extended to other countries, it would help realize the WHO's vision of "Universal Health Coverage" (UHC), enabling everyone to access essential health services at an affordable cost.
Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, he noted that Japan is currently promoting the establishment of a national medical information platform and the introduction of AI into the medical field. Meanwhile, Taiwan possesses advanced AI chip manufacturing capabilities and experience in medical information standardization. He expressed hope that a deeper collaboration between the two sides could lead to the joint creation of a more comprehensive smart healthcare ecosystem.
Lee stated that the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic shows that excluding Taiwan, with its advanced medical technology and public health capabilities, from the WHO would be detrimental to the global public health system.
He also argued that neither United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 nor WHA Resolution 25.1 mentions Taiwan, nor do they exclude Taiwan from participating in the WHO and WHA. He mentioned that U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and the Czech Senate had both expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations in March of this year.
Finally, Lee called on Japan and international friends to support Taiwan's participation in the WHA and related WHO activities and mechanisms to enhance the integrity and resilience of the global health system. He affirmed that Taiwan will continue to contribute to global health and well-being to realize the principles of the WHO Constitution that "health is a fundamental human right" and the UN's Sustainable Development Goal to "leave no one behind."
Lee pointed out that the world currently faces issues such as shortages of medical personnel and rising costs, making medical digital transformation a critical task for all nations. He noted that the Japanese government has established a Medical DX Promotion Headquarters to actively advance its medical digitalization policies.
He stated that Taiwan has effectively enhanced its medical quality and efficiency by integrating big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technology, while ensuring the secure circulation of medical data. Leveraging its strengths in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and its National Health Insurance system, Taiwan has built a digital health platform. This platform promotes the integration of electronic health records, AI-based risk prediction, and real-time medical and medication information services, which aid in the early prediction of chronic diseases and precision medicine. Through electronic prescriptions and telemedicine services, it also helps to reduce the healthcare gap between rural and urban areas.
He emphasized that Taiwan's achievements in the field of smart healthcare have gained international recognition. This includes 13 hospitals being listed in Newsweek's "World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026," the second-highest number in Asia. Additionally, Taiwan has been ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years in the health care index by the global living information platform Numbeo.
Lee expressed that if Taiwan's model of combining technology with its public health system could be extended to other countries, it would help realize the WHO's vision of "Universal Health Coverage" (UHC), enabling everyone to access essential health services at an affordable cost.
Regarding Taiwan-Japan cooperation, he noted that Japan is currently promoting the establishment of a national medical information platform and the introduction of AI into the medical field. Meanwhile, Taiwan possesses advanced AI chip manufacturing capabilities and experience in medical information standardization. He expressed hope that a deeper collaboration between the two sides could lead to the joint creation of a more comprehensive smart healthcare ecosystem.
Lee stated that the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic shows that excluding Taiwan, with its advanced medical technology and public health capabilities, from the WHO would be detrimental to the global public health system.
He also argued that neither United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 nor WHA Resolution 25.1 mentions Taiwan, nor do they exclude Taiwan from participating in the WHO and WHA. He mentioned that U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and the Czech Senate had both expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations in March of this year.
Finally, Lee called on Japan and international friends to support Taiwan's participation in the WHA and related WHO activities and mechanisms to enhance the integrity and resilience of the global health system. He affirmed that Taiwan will continue to contribute to global health and well-being to realize the principles of the WHO Constitution that "health is a fundamental human right" and the UN's Sustainable Development Goal to "leave no one behind."