TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The World Health Organization should live up to its slogan “One World for Health” and invite Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly, 21 Taiwanese medical groups said Friday.
The assembly holds its 78th annual session in Geneva from May 19-27. For the ninth year in a row, Taiwan has not received an invitation, despite growing support from its diplomatic allies and friendly nations.
The Taiwan Medical Association is one of the 21 groups calling on the World Health Organization to distance itself from political motives and invite Taiwan to contribute to the assembly, Radio Taiwan International reported. The World Medical Association, with millions of members, has also backed Taiwan’s participation.
Activists noted that Taiwan, through its 30 years of health insurance, has achieved an insurance coverage rate of 99%, a target which the World Health Organization was only now starting to address with a campaign scheduled for 2025-2028.
Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said that because of opposition budget cuts the delegation heading for Geneva on May 16 will include 20 people, about one-third less than in previous years. He said the group would “half protest, half make a call” to promote Taiwan’s case for global health, per CNA.
The delegation is expected to hold news conferences and seminars, while also contacting individual participants and country representatives at the assembly.
