Mon, Apr 14, 2003 page8

• Health and politics will always be inseparable

  • By Wu Shuh-min 吳樹民
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  According to the United Daily News, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said in an interview with a Hong Kong newspaper, Wen Wei Po, that WHO experts, in the absence of China's consent, will be unable to accept Taiwan's invitation for a visit. Although everyone is familiar with China's pressure on Taiwan, and WHO experts feel powerless to change the situation, I would like to share my views, after recently visiting Japan and South Korea to lobby for Taiwan's entry into the WHO.

  First, many people, including Chinese Health Minister Zhang Wenkang (張文康), believe Taiwan is pursuing a political objective by taking advantage of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) problem to gain entry into the WHO. I do not deny that political pressure is the greatest obstacle to the nation's admission to the WHO, but I want to clarify that the so-called political problem faced by Taiwan has many dimensions.

  China's obstruction is one of these dimensions. Taiwan's appeal following the SARS outbreak is absolutely out of consideration for people's health. Politics is the kind of trouble from which we want to keep away at a time like this. WHO experts felt uneasy and powerless when they faced the problem of not being able to visit Taiwan. Does this seem like a situation where Taiwan is ignoring the people's health rights or is using the people's health rights as the means to achieve a political objective?

  In the spirit of WHO's purpose and value, the WHO, China and Taiwan should put aside their political debate until the World Health Assembly has an opportunity to discuss Taipei's request for admission to the organization. Otherwise, after spending almost 10 years in a blind alley we still have no way out in terms of resolving a pressing public health issue. Finally, the SARS epidemic has offered us a shortcut. Therefore, Taiwan should look at the big picture from a different angle by considering its contribution to preventing the spread of the SARS epidemic. The government should share its SARS-prevention and treatment experiences and techniques with the world, in order to facilitate international exchange for the nation's medical profession.

  During my recent trip abroad, I had the opportunity to discuss the country's situation with ex-WHO experts. They are interested in neither the political struggle between Taiwan and China, which is clearly a political reality that cannot be helped, nor Taipei's presence in the international arena. On the contrary, they are most interested in Taiwan's implementation of SARS-control measures and medical treatment. They believe this nation's expertise in fighting SARS is valuable, an area in which Taiwan can show its knowledge and ability.

  I do not deny the political problem between Taiwan and the WHO. Instead, the political problem is still the greatest obstacle that deprives the Taiwanese people of their health rights, which should not be ignored. The political problem is not this country's fault. However, we need to treat the complexity of this political problem with great prudence, making it a long-term goal to push for Taiwan's entry into the WHO.

  In the meantime, we should deal with the SARS threat and prevent the spread of the disease as quickly as possible, by making the international community aware of the nation's importance and contribution to the world. It will be a blessing for Taiwan if other countries get to know us this way.

  Wu Shuh-min is the president of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan.

  Translated by Grace Shaw
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