This article is written by Mr. Chang Chun-Fu, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand.
According to the media reports, COVID-19 cases in Thailand have surged once again after this Songkran Festival, reminding us that the threat of the pandemic persists. Although COVID-19 is no longer classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the World Health Organization continues to warn about the threat of a Disease X pandemic. Therefore, enhancing global health governance becomes an important issue that Thailand, Taiwan, and governments worldwide cannot afford to overlook.
WHO and many countries began reviewing response strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaknesses in the International Health Regulations (2005) as concerns managing this crisis were revealed. As a result, changes are afoot. Proposed revisions include enhanced surveillance, reporting, and information sharing; improved response readiness; and revised criteria for declaring PHEICs.
At the same time, there is vigorous debate around a new pandemic agreement, which aims to craft a robust global pandemic governance framework grounded in accountability, transparency, and equity. This agreement is expected to be approved at the upcoming 77th World Health Assembly scheduled from May 27 to June 1 this year.
Taiwan strongly supports the revision of the International Health Regulations (2005) and the approval of the new pandemic agreement. However, as Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, we cannot directly influence revisions to the IHR (2005) or drafting the new pandemic agreement is not possible. We call on WHO to include Taiwan as a signatory to these documents.
This inclusion would facilitate collaborative efforts in monitoring emerging virus strains, reporting and exchanging pathogen diagnosis data, and sharing novel vaccine and antiviral research or clinical trial results. By fostering collective global action against future pandemics, we could build a more resilient global society with effective disease prevention measures.
We urge WHO to support Taiwan’s inclusion in overseeing global health. Taiwan remains committed to participating based on the principles of professionalism, pragmatism, and making contributions. Taiwan seeks to cooperate with WHO to remedy geographic gaps in global health security and to construct a comprehensive global health framework.
The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a fundamental human right in their constitutions. Despite this, many nations have not passed and implemented relevant laws to ensure that their citizens have access to healthcare services. Taiwan has worked hard to reach universal health coverage and has consistently improved the quality of health care over the past few decades in line with WHO recommendations.
Taiwan has effectively integrated and allocated social welfare resources to enhance primary and oral health care for all, implement mental health programs, and strengthen the social safety net. Taiwan has put in place an agile and resilient healthcare system able to combat both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. We are improving health for all individuals over the course of their entire lives. Moreover, Taiwan is working to share its experience and expertise in achieving universal health coverage to help the international community realize health for all.
The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right.” This is a way to advocate for every individual, everywhere, to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as enjoy safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.
Through a public-private partnership, Taiwan has been contributing to global efforts to realize the right to health in collaboration with partner countries and international organizations. We have improved medical care in South Pacific island nations, enhanced nutrition for women and children affected by an earthquake in Haiti, provided psychological support to Ukrainian refugee women and children in Romania as well as aid workers; bolstered climate change adaptability in the Caribbean; and improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene at healthcare facilities in Kenya.
Taiwan is committed to supporting the World Health Organization in implementing the principle of “ health as a human right “. Yet the rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people are disregarded by WHO for political reasons. We urge WHO and all relevant parties to recognize Taiwan’s considerable contributions to global public health and the human right to health. It is imperative for WHO to adopt a more open-minded approach and demonstrate flexibility, adhering to the principles of professionalism and inclusivity.
Taiwan should be included, as a matter of pragmatism, in the World Health Assembly and all WHO meetings, activities, and mechanisms, particularly those related to the WHO pandemic agreement. This would better empower Taiwan to collaborate with global partners to uphold the fundamental human right to health stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind espoused in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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