Taiwan and World Health Organization 結果共8筆

Discover why Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly sparks debate over its global health contributions and the quest for international recognition. Read insights from Ray Ming-tse Lu on Taiwan’s readiness to share its health care expertise.

The Taiwan Health Promotion Administration warns the public that heated tobacco products have the same nicotine content and addictiveness as traditional tobacco, according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s report revealed that marketing strategies used by heated tobacco businesses may mislead consumers into thinking these products are less harmful. Rats exposed to aerosols from a single heated tobacco stick had nicotine concentration in their blood 4.5 times higher than those exposed to traditional tobacco smoke. Nicotine not only leads to addiction but also causes harm to attention, learning, mood control, impulse control, pregnant women, and developing embryos. Heated tobacco emissions contain harmful and carcinogenic substances, putting the body at risk. Data does not support the idea that substituting traditional tobacco with heated tobacco reduces health risks. Tobacco companies use misleading marketing tactics to lure consumers, claiming lower health risks and reduced secondhand smoke and odor. It is important to note that no heated tobacco products are currently approved for sale in Taiwan, and their manufacturing, importation, selling, supplying, display, advertising, and usage are prohibited under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

The Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council has announced that starting from January 1 next year, it will suspend the application of preferential tariffs for 12 categories of chemically imported goods from Taiwan, including propylene and paraxylene. China claims that Taiwan violates ECFA regulations by imposing discriminatory trade measures for products exported from China, and a trade barrier investigation by China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed these restrictions as a trade barrier. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) accuses China of political manipulation and bypassing WTO dispute mechanisms. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) states that the export value of ECFA’s early harvest list to China has been decreasing, projected to retract to pre-ECFA levels by year-end. The MOEA proposes managing cross-strait economic disputes under the WTO mechanism and encourages China to do the same.

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant JN.1 has been sporadically detected in Taiwan’s local cases. JN.1 is an offspring of the BA.2.86 variant and was first detected in Taiwan on Oct. 20 through a traveler from Japan. The local proportion of the JN.1 strain is below 5 percent, indicating that it has not become the dominant strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the continued use of the XBB.1.5 vaccine strain, which has been shown to be effective against JN.1 and other emerging variants.

Taiwan has been facing a persistent flu season since the beginning of the year, with three concurrent viruses spreading. Physician Huang Li-min from National Taiwan University Hospital warned of the severity of the flu outbreak and projected a potential two-year ’immunity debt’. Huang also highlighted the heightened risk of a Mycoplasma outbreak in Taiwan, urging the public to practice preventative measures such as vaccinations and adherence to public health guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan has implemented targeted surveillance and testing at international airports, leading to the detection of various viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and adenoviruses. The World Health Organization is monitoring the Mycoplasma situation in China, urging vigilance despite a decline in the pandemic.

A survey conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) revealed that Japan ranks last in terms of employees’ physical, psychological, social, and mental health conditions at the workplace. The survey evaluated the health conditions of over 30,000 employees from 30 countries, with Japan scoring a mere 25%. Turkey, India, and China topped the ranking with scores of 78%, 76%, and 75% respectively.

As urbanization continues around the world, an increasing number of people must endure daily exposure to traffic noise and man-made disturbances. However, noise pollution can contribute to health problems, as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu criticized World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and entrepreneur Elon Musk on Monday (May 22).