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Editorial: Not the time to let down our guard

Taiwan has finally been removed from the World Health Organization's (WHO) SARS travel advisory list. The initial euphoric response upon hearing the news was quickly dispelled by reflection on the two-month-long SARS nightmare that placed several thousand people in quarantine, saw more than 600 people infected and killed 83 people, including seven health-care workers.

Then there have been the political travails as Taiwan was discriminated against by the WHO and insulted by China at the World Health Assembly last month. Not only that, but former Department of Health director-general Twu Shiing-jer (塗醒哲) was unable to get his department to work, much less the fractious medical institutions. He had to step down and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had to step forward to lead the battle against the virus. It turned out that the nation's medical institutions are not as sacred as once imagined and that problems abound in the country's health-care system.

Since the days of Japanese rule, doctors have have played the role of social, political and moral leaders in Taiwan. They took an active role in human rights and democracy movements. They also enjoyed high social status and respect from the people. The Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan represents the best of the best among them. The group has been active in social reform movements since its inception. Since 1997, it has also been one of the most active groups pushing for Taiwan's entry into the WHO, sending delegations to Geneva every year to lobby for Taiwan.

However, if we look at the SARS outbreak at the Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital, we can also see some careless and negligent doctors who were not vigilant about anti-SARS precautions. Even after the hospital was sealed off, some doctors refused to undergo quarantine and sent letters accusing the government of mishandling the hospital quarantine. Then there was the doctor who traveled abroad -- even though he had attended to SARS patients -- thereby causing panic in other countries. The doctor's carelessness also reflects the loopholes in Taiwan's medical ethics education.

The National Taiwan University Hospital, the country's top medical institution, has people like Chang Shang-chwen (張上淳), its infectious diseases department director who won national respect for his work in the fight against SARS. At the same time, however, it also has people like PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見), a neurologist, who has acted as China's agent during the SARS epidemic. He is an embarrassment to the nation's medical profession.

Taiwan was invited to the WHO's global SARS conference in Kuala Lumpur this week. Despite China's attempts to sideline it, the nation still participated -- with a smile -- hoping to make its voice heard in the international community.

Being removed from the travel advisory does not mean that the fight against SARS is over. Taiwan still has a much more difficult mission to accomplish -- to be removed from the WHO's list of SARS-affected areas.

Taiwan cannot afford to be pessimistic, even though its wish of joining the WHO has not been fulfilled. The fight against SARS is only the first step. Being invited to attend a WHO conference is only the beginning of a long journey, one that can be achieved step by step.
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