Germany backs Taiwan’s WHO participation at WHA

GENEVA (TVBS News) — During the World Health Assembly (WHA), Germany's Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach voiced strong support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). He urged the global community to leverage Taiwan's expertise to tackle future challenges.

Lauterbach, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and a public health and epidemiology scholar known for his media presence during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the need for WHO to become more agile and efficient.

Global Health Leadership

Since taking office at the end of 2021, Lauterbach has been instrumental in pushing for medical reforms in Germany. He played a key role in the WHO reform proposal passed by the German Federal Parliament in mid-May 2023. The proposal, backed by Germany's coalition government, calls for the WHO to enhance its flexibility and strengthen its leadership in global epidemic prevention and control. It specifically advocates for Taiwan's health sector and health institutions to participate in the WHA and related WHO activities as observers.

Facing Global Threats Together

In his speech at the WHA, Lauterbach emphasized the importance of unity and the utilization of everyone's expertise, including Taiwan's, to face the challenges ahead. He pointed out that the world is confronting multiple threats, such as climate change, new pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and bioterrorism. Therefore, revising international health regulations and boosting the WHO's resilience is more crucial than ever. Lauterbach's call for Taiwan's inclusion underscores a growing recognition of Taiwan's valuable contributions to global health initiatives.