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Step up efforts to rejoin the WHO

Dec. 10 was International Human Rights Day and also the 21st anniversary of the Kaohsiung Incident (美麗島事件). In light of this significant day, let us review the problem of medical rights in Taiwan in order to raise the public's awareness of this issue.

Some people say that Taiwan's health situation and medical rights have improved dramatically since the country pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO). Each medical unit strictly adheres to the resolutions and regulations of the WHO in order to advance medical and health work. Infectious diseases have been controlled. Hygienic conditions have improved. Maternity care has received serious attention and the National Health Insurance program has been implemented. Is it necessary to spend more resources and manpower to promote Taiwan's entry into the WHO?

This is a question that the Medical Professionals Alliance (醫界聯盟) has run into since it started to push for entry into the organization in 1996. But in the course of actively promoting this cause, we have discovered that not being a member has brought a great deal of inconvenience to Taiwan. Public health, medical treatment, medical drugs, handling of infectious diseases and even medical rights, have all been seriously impaired.

Consider the following examples. First, at present there is no place for Taiwan at any conference or symposium lead by the WHO, whether it involves setting health policy, developing advanced clinical techniques, evaluating supervisory control systems for diseases and so on. According to the director of the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Wu Cheng-chung (吳誠中), some WHO officials understand Taiwan's medical capabilities and would like to hold a symposium here. However, their plans have been dropped simply because Taiwan is not a member.

Second, we were unable to get WHO assistance during the enterovirus epidemic of 1998.

Third, we were unable to get WHO validation for having completed the work of eradicating polio this year.

Fourth, cholera and other diseases are prevalent in China's coastal areas. In reports published by the WHO, Taiwan is considered a part of China and becomes an "infected area."

Fifth, we have no way to quickly obtain new medical information and technology. For instance, in 1984 the WHO issued a report calling attention to the problem of radioactive rebar used in construction. Taiwan, however, only started to pay attention to the problem in 1992, causing irreparable harm to many families. The WHO has also already started to trace the possible harmful effects of cellular phone base stations on humans. What is Taiwan doing?

Perhaps pessimists will say that with China's obstruction, ascending to Heaven would be easier for Taiwan than returning to the international stage. But on the other hand, China spent over 20 years getting into the UN. Do we have the right to be pessimistic? We must rouse our spirits and continue to work diligently.

The WHO has 191 member states -- 90 of which play host to one of our embassies or representative offices and maintain quite close relations with us. Therefore, seeking support from these governments should be our first priority. However, we must also understand that when each government considers our case, there is almost no way to avoid interference from China, which will cause a majority of them to be unwilling to openly support Taiwan. This is the tangible obstacle in the current international reality.

For this reason, in addition to striving for support from each country's administrative authorities, we also place great importance on seeking support from each country's legislature, medical establishment and public.

Due to the coordinated efforts of the government and grass-roots organizations in recent years, the US House of Repre-sentatives passed a resolution on Oct. 3 advocating Taiwan's appropriate and meaningful participation in international organizations such as the UN and the WHO. House members added that the US should translate into reality a 1994 report and more actively support Taiwan's obtaining member status in "appropriate international organizations."

Dr. Eitaka Tsuboi (坪井榮孝), who was elected president of the World Medical Association (WMA) this year, also stated that he understands and sympathizes with Taiwan's struggle in recent years to join the WHO. Since the WMA and the WHO have always been friendly, he is very willing to act as a bridge to help Taiwan.

In addition to this, legislators in a number of European countries have already expressed sympathy for our appeal to participate in the WHO. In England, the Czech Republic, Italy and Norway there are legislators exhorting their governments to consider seriously our desire to participate in the WHO.

Recently, international medical groups and leading figures have also stood up to give us moral support. For instance, the British medical journal, The Lancet, has published commentaries supporting our return to the WHO. Medical groups in the US, Austria, Belgium and Norway have sent letters to their respective governments or to the chairman of WHO's executive board to urge support for Taiwan to become an observing member. If such international support for our participation can come together to form popular opinion, then the weight of public opinion should be able to effectively press each government to take supportive action.

In the last four years, our aspiration has gradually come to the attention of the international community. From this point on, we must continue to cooperate and strive for international acceptance and support.

Lin Heng-li and Chen Wan-der are members of the Medical Professionals' Alliance in Taichung.

translated by Ethan Harkness
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