Taiwan's request for WHO participation

(First of three parts)

The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been seeking to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1997, as it is the only reliable way to ensure the health rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people. Taiwan has also set observership at the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an important goal. In addition to its diplomatic ties, Taiwan has succeeded in gaining firm support from the US and Japan. The European Union and Canada have also signaled their support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO, and many other countries recognize the need to include Taiwan in the global health network.

Taiwan welcomes the arrangements proposed by the WHO in January this year to include Taiwan in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and from a technical perspective, considers this a positive development. However, the IHR is limited in scope to the sharing of information on epidemics and their control. If the global public health system is to be considered complete, then Taiwan’s involvement in other issues concerning human health and welfare — such as food safety, tobacco control and the prevention of counterfeiting pharmaceutical products — is absolutely necessary.

The government of Taiwan therefore believes that the WHO must accept its full participation to ensure the highest attainable standard of health for all. Granting Taiwan WHA observer status is the most pragmatic and feasible way of including Taiwan at this stage. First, this is consistent with current WHO practice based on the spirit of Article 18 (h) of the WHO Constitution, and of Rules 3 and 19 of the WHA Rules of Procedure. Under these rules, a non-member state which has filed an application for membership or which has signed but not yet ratified under the WHO constitution, and a territory which has filed an application for associate membership, may be invited to attend the WHA as an observer. The current participation of six observers in the WHA such as the Holy See (since 1953), the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Palestine, the International Committee of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies and the Interparliamentary Union is not really in conformity with the above rules. However, WHO allows this in line with the spirit of universal participation as enshrined in the WHO Constitution. Therefore, in the same token, it should also allow Taiwan’s participation as observer.

The second significance of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer is its proven track record in the prevention of the spread of diseases, an important contribution that would help strengthen the global health system. Also, Taiwan’s being a key sea and air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region from where an average of 3,600 international flights, 1,633 ships and 490,000 international passengers pass through on a weekly basis makes it a critical area from where diseases can easily spread, potentially causing an epidemic, or worst, a pandemic. Taiwan can be a strategic partner in the prevention of such health risks and no less than the international community should help find a solution to allow the immediate involvement of Taiwan in the WHO to help control such risks that threaten the world’s population.

Few people know of Taiwan’s valuable experience in the eradication of numerous transmittable diseases in the homefront, such as malaria, smallpox and polio that other countries can benefit from. It has also set a precedent in Asia by establishing the region’s first national health insurance system, which it also generously supported financially.

We shall tackle in the next issues the contribution of the Taiwan government in the research and development of vaccines to prevent the spread of diseases and how it has helped other countries to upgrade their healthcare standards. There are certainly more than enough reasons why Taiwan should be recognized by the international community in the field of healthcare and disease control and prevention through its full and active participation in the World Health Organization.