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Do not despair over the WHO bid

Taiwan's attempt to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) was once again frustrated this year. Many overseas Taiwanese and medical professionals concerned about this issue gathered in Geneva, the venue for the WHA, together with the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan for propaganda and lobbying actions. Before leaving for Geneva, everyone was asking for an evaluation of this year's possibilities of being let in. There were also questions about the difference between WHA observer status and membership in the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO holds its assembly every May. Taiwan is only applying to qualify as an observer to the assembly. The WHO is made up of its member states, without any observers. Taiwan is thus for the time applying to become an observer to the WHA under the name of "Health Entity of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" (we are applying under the name of Taiwan, and the entity represents Taiwan's current legal status).

As for observer status, both the WHO Constitution and the WHA Rules of Procedure state that participation shall be based on invitation. Article 18, item "h" in chapter 5 of the WHO Constitution states that [the functions of the Health Assembly shall be, among other things,] "to invite any organization, international or national, governmental or non-governmental, which has responsibilities related to those of the Organization, to appoint representatives to participate, without right of vote, in its meetings or in those of the committees and conferences convened under its authority, on conditions prescribed by the Health Assem-bly; but in the case of national organizations, invitations shall be issued only with the consent of the Government concerned."

Section 2, Rule 3 in the WHA Rules of Procedure states that "the Director-General may invite States having made application for membership, territories on whose behalf application for associate membership has been made, and States which have signed but not accepted the Constitution to send observers to sessions of the Health Assembly."

Taiwan is currently relying on the latter in the hope that the WHA will pass an invitation for Taiwan to participate by citing Article 8, item h in the WHO Constitution.

Everyone sincerely hopes for Taiwanese participation in the WHA, especially now that the SARS storm is exacting a heavy death toll in this nation. I want to share the following concepts from the participation efforts from 1997 onwards, and use these concepts to evaluate the situation.

First, the WHO should not exclude Taiwan and ignore its people's right to health, but allow it to become a member. This reason has always been there, but this year there is the SARS storm, and everyone feels more deeply about it.

Second, the strongest opposition to Taiwan's becoming an observer to the WHA comes from China. It will not ease its pressure on Taiwan in response to Taipei's goodwill toward, or diminished animosity against, China. In other words, no matter how low Taiwan's profile, it will never be able to please this enemy.

Third, we should not overestimate the power of international justice. For the nations of the world, national interest is what counts. For example, if the epidemic in Taiwan becomes serious, Japan, which each year exchanges 2 million visits with Taiwan, will not be able to remain aloof and avoid being affected. Becoming a troublemaker will make it easier for Taiwan to be invited as an observer to the WHA. This is one main reason why the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was invited into the UN and it's peripheral organizations as an observer.

Fourth, the US-Iraq war has shown that the US being a superpower has no direct bearing on the number of votes it can muster in the UN. Even though the US Senate and House of Representatives are Taiwan's strongest supporters in this undertaking, having the US as our only friend is not enough. Each time we discuss whether our case is ready to be put to the vote, merely the number of votes controlled by China together with the number of anti-US votes are enough to call for a retreat.

Taiwan must put its advantages to good use and find ways to play an active role in international diplomacy. If not, Taiwan can only wait passively to have its fate decided by others.

Are things really that bad? Of course not. I believe that the fact that Taiwan's efforts to join the WHO has become an important international issue is a great accomplishment. We have also seen a clear direction as a result of this goal -- "people diplomacy." Following the establishment of an inter-ministerial task force in 2001, each department has invested more resources, leading to a great increase in capacity.

All our efforts have led to a great increase in visibility. Many big international newspapers have devoted prominent space and editorial support to Taiwan's participation in the WHO. The US, Japan, the European Parliament and many national parliaments and governments lend particular support to making an unequivocal decision regarding Taiwan's entry into the WHO. International non-governmental organizations such as the World Medical Association, the World Pharmaceutical Association and the international nursing association have also adopted resolutions in clear support of Taiwan's participation in the WHO.

In other words, the very process of developing Taiwan's efforts to participate in the WHO is a goal in itself. The efforts invested in achieving this goal have brought with them a rich harvest. We have seen more Taiwanese medical professionals participate in international professional organizations, and Taiwan's international medical aid has also created a stir. The development of the nation's bid to participate in the WHO has expanded the international participation of our medical and health specialists.

Even though we have not been able to join the WHO yet, the very process of developing the bid is in itself a goal. Isn't this a cause for celebration?

This issue has also united Taiwanese both at home and abroad in a joint effort. In addition to the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan which initiated its efforts on this issue in 1997 under the leadership of Academia Sinica member Lee Cheng-yuan (李鎮源), the North America Formosan Association for Public Affairs and the North America Taiwanese Medical Association, both of which initiated the push for the US Congress to adopt a resolution in support of Taiwan, are also important pillars in this project.

Overseas Taiwanese have established the European Federation of Taiwan Health Alliance, the Japanese Union of Taiwanese Doctors, Taiwanese chambers of commerce, homeland associations and so on. These groups have sent letters to health ministers and parliamentarians in their respective countries to ask for support.

The most pleasing thing is that the nation's political parties have joined the effort, telling the whole world that this is the wish of all of the people to join the WHO. The bid was not successful this year, but we have already gained a lot along the way.

Lin Shih-chia is executive director of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan.

Translated by Perry Svensson
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