In the News

President Ma praises Taiwan’s WHA performance

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou responds to the briefing on Taiwan’s WHA participation during a KMT central committee meeting June 6 in Taipei City. (CNA)

• Publication Date：06/07/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Rachel Chan

President Ma Ying-jeou acclaimed June 6 the performance of the ROC at the recently concluded World Health Assembly in Geneva, stating that the nation’s medical system and health care service once again won praise from other countries.

“The Taiwan delegation engaged in a record number of professional meetings and bilateral consultations with World Health Organization members,” Ma said. “We were able to raise the profile of our medical achievements and show how we can make a bigger contribution to boosting global health.”

Ma, who doubles as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang, made the remarks at a KMT central committee meeting following a briefing by Department of Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta on this year’s WHA participation.

Ma said Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system, which is an affordable, efficient and fair program, is highly commended by WHA members. Its success was spotlighted in a recent report by CNN, which praised health coverage in Taiwan, Switzerland and the U.K.

“The U.S. medical system covers only 85 percent of the total population, whereas our program has 99.6 percent coverage,” Ma said, attributing this success to dedicated and highly trained medical personnel.

Looking ahead, the president vowed to continue strengthening health care in Taiwan and further recognize the contributions of medical personnel by improving their working conditions. He also promised to increase efforts in providing international humanitarian aid.

Ma highlighted the fact that Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer for the fourth consecutive year following 38 years of exclusion. This is possible, he said, thanks to health officials and workers, support from ROC diplomatic allies and friendly nations such as the EU, Japan and U.S., as well as improved cross-strait relations.

But there is room for improvement, Ma said, citing the goal of expanding Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities and resolving the simmering name dispute issue.

The president was referring to the September 2010 internal memo issued by WHO Secretary-General Margaret Chan in which officials were instructed to refer to the country as a province of mainland China.

The ROC government has since been urging the WHO to correct this error and use the name Chinese Taipei as per its 2009 invitation to attend the WHA as an observer. (JSM)

Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw