The prestigious Diplomat of the Global Charter award was bestowed upon Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung May 19 in Geneva for his efforts in promoting health equality and the National Health Insurance system.
“I would like to attribute this award to the dedication of all public health professionals in Taiwan,” Chen said during his acceptance speech for the World Federation of Public Health Associations-presented honor. “It is their hard work safeguarding the health and well-being of Taiwan’s 23 million citizens that makes our success possible.”
According to Chen, Taiwan has extended universal health coverage to all citizens from birth since 1995, with the cost-effective, single-payer model significantly increasing life expectancy. There is no question the NHI can serve as a model for other nations, he said.
Given the great interest shown by many countries in the NHI, Chen said, one of the best ways to share Taiwan’s experiences in developing the system would be as an observer in the World Health Assembly—the decision-making body of the World Health Organization.
Taiwan’s regrettable nonivitation to the 71st WHA May 21-26 in Geneva limits its capacity for sharing health policy and gives rise to a number of potentially grave consequences, Chen said. “My government remains committed to helping enhance regional and global disease prevention networks, but our exclusion from the WHO seriously hampers us in this work and thus creates a gap in the heart of Asia.”
The award follows a letter by the World Medical Association urging WHA Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to reinstate Taiwan’s 2009 to 2016 meaningful participation in the assembly and WHO technical meetings.
WMA President Dr. Yoshitake Yokokura and WMA Council Chair Dr. Ardis Hoven wrote May 7 that they are concerned about the lockout of Taiwan’s delegation from the WHA and see only political reasons behind such restrictions.
“But as physicians we reject the idea of a political instrumentalization of global health. It is also undesirable … to create a blank area in the infectious disease network of the globe because the spread of infectious diseases is threatening beyond borders.”
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Chen is in Geneva at the head of a delegation conveying Taiwan’s deep dissatisfaction at not receiving an invitation to the WHA. His agenda includes holding talks with officials and medical experts from diplomatic allies and like-minded countries. (SFC-E)
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