Taiwan seeks WHO inclusion with Geneva diplomatic reception

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — On the eve of the World Health Assembly (WHA) set to commence Tuesday (May 28), Taiwan hosted a diplomatic reception in Geneva, inviting health ministers or ambassadors from 11 allied countries and nearly a hundred representatives from like-minded nations to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) activities.

The event underscored Taiwan's ongoing efforts to be included in global health discussions despite its exclusion from WHO and WHA mechanisms.

At the reception, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan lamented Taiwan's exclusion from WHO activities, highlighting that Taiwan's public health system has been ranked first globally by Numbeo for five consecutive years. Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) echoed this sentiment, stating that health rights are fundamental and should not be discriminated against, yet the rights of Taiwan's 23.5 million people are ignored and harmed by WHO due to political factors.

Eswatini's Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula and Guatemala's Health Minister Oscar Cordón praised Taiwan as an indispensable partner in ensuring the welfare and health of their citizens and acknowledged Taiwan's contributions to developing countries. Taiwan's representative in Geneva, Su Ying-chun, emphasized the strong international support for Taiwan, stating, "We are not alone here."

The reception, featuring Taiwanese tea, whiskey, bubble tea, snacks, and gua bao, reflected the warm atmosphere and the growing international support for Taiwan. This event marks a significant effort by Taiwan to engage with the global health community and advocate for its inclusion in WHO work, despite the challenges posed by international politics.