Opinion

Good medicine for Taiwan’s international space

• Publication Date：05/20/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Nick du Toit

As the ROC prepares to send a delegation to next week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, the 23 million people of Taiwan can take great comfort in the fact that the U.S. stands firmly behind central government efforts to secure expanded participation for the country in the World Health Organization.

This backing, which was reaffirmed in a U.S. Department of State report presented to Congress in late April, applies to the nation’s observer status at the annual meeting of the WHO governing body. It also extends to the thorny issue of the country’s name in the U.N. health body, which Washington said it is concerned about, along with various restrictions on attempts by Taipei to take part in WHO technical consultations and programs.

The U.S. feels, with good reason, that these issues could potentially hamstring arrangements to include the nation in WHO International Health Regulations. This would be a disastrous result that jeopardizes the health of ROC nationals and weakens the global health network.

In April 2009, the ROC was invited to attend the WHA as an observer under the name Chinese Taipei. But in a September 2010 internal memo issued by WHO Secretary-General Margaret Chan, officials were instructed to refer to the country as a province of mainland China.

ROC Department of Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta wasted no time protesting the action, describing it as disrespectful and demanding the WHO take immediate action to correct its mistake. He also handed a three-page protest letter to WHO Legal Counsel Gian Luca Burci while leading the ROC representation to the WHA last May.

In his correspondence, Chiu called on the WHO to follow the WHA in referring to the ROC as Chinese Taipei in all documentation as a matter of consistency. Although Burci agreed to pass the letter along to Chan and praised the nation for its contributions and ongoing participation in the assembly, nothing more was heard from the WHO on the matter.

These sounds of silence are not becoming an organization of the WHO’s standing, especially in light of an alleged secret agreement with mainland China governing ROC participation in the U.N. body. Chan would be wise to remember her oath of office contained in staff regulation 1.10 forbids all WHO civil servants from seeking or accepting instructions in regard to the performance of duties from any government or other authority external to the organization.

The ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken the right tack in refusing to let this matter fall by the wayside, repeatedly following up on Chiu’s protest with statements expressing the unacceptable nature of the incident.

In its latest release May 17, MOFA deputy spokesman Steve Hsia said Taipei does not need to go through Beijing when contacting the WHO. He added that the ministry will not accept any impingement on the country’s direct relationship with the WHO, a position Chiu has been instructed to express while attending the WHA May 21-26 in Switzerland.

The ROC’s involvement in the 65th WHA is the fourth consecutive year for the nation to take part in the event following 38 years of exclusion. While Chiu will use the occasion to hammer out the name issue, he also plans to showcase DOH health care achievements and remind all and sundry of the contributions the country can make to improving international disease-prevention programs.

The ROC’s experiences in implementing its second generation National Health Insurance program will be of great interest during a conference session delivered by Chiu on universal health care coverage. In addition, his brief address on building a sustainable medical system is set to be a highlight.

Chiu is also set to remind participants that the ROC is ready, willing and able to expand its role in all WHO programs and activities, with future cooperation initiatives focusing on select projects in synch with national public health goals. These include the International Food Safety Authorities Network and Stop TB Partnership.

INFOSAN, a joint initiative between WHO and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, aims to share information on food safety and manage risks through borderless collaboration; while Stop TB Partnership seeks to eliminate tuberculosis as a public health problem and to create a TB-free world.

By playing an expanded role in WHO programs and activities, the ROC is on the fast track to winning recognition from the family of nations as a reliable partner and key ally in tackling health issues of critical importance. And with a greater role in the organization, the country can better share its extensive experience in assisting less developed nations provide improved health care for their populations, along with emergency medical services know-how.

The ROC delegation has the backing of the nation’s 23 diplomatic allies, as well as longstanding friends such as Canada, Japan, the EU and U.S. Its presence at the WHA represents an important opportunity for the government to demonstrate the value of the ROC’s meaningful participation in relevant international organizations.

Nick du Toit is a freelance writer based in Kinmen County. These views are the author’s and not necessarily those of Taiwan Today. Copyright © 2012 by Nick du Toit

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