Taiwan should apply for full membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) next year instead of requesting observer status, officials of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said yesterday.
"Taiwan is already a sovereign state. Whether pushing for observer status or full membership, the bid is a difficult one. Why not fight for full membership?" said Chen Lung-chu (
Key leaders in Taiwan's WHO bid, which was defeated last week -- including Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan President Wu Shuh-min (
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Medical Professionals Alliance Executive Director Lin Shih-chia (
"Observer status only lasts six days each year; full membership ensures healthcare benefits all year round," Lin said.
The WHO constitution does not directly define observer status, referring only to the power of the World Health Assembly (WHA) "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."
In recent years, Taiwan has unsuccessfully applied for WHO participation as an observer to the WHA, the organization's highest decision-making body.
"Michael Kau (
However, Maysing Yang (
"While their [the NGOs'] views are on the right track, there are many difficulties that stand in the way," Yang said.
She explained that a lot of progress was made this year, with the US and Japan voting for the inclusion of Taiwan's application in the WHA agenda. Switching gears and calling for full membership could possibly set Taiwan back in terms of US and Japanese support.
"A lot of countries are, for commercial interest among others, afraid to go against China ... politics is higher than international law and human rights in this case," Yang said.
Yang also said that observer status would mean more than just participation in the health body's annual six-day summit, pointing out that observer nations would be invited to other conferences and committees throughout the year.
"It's not bad for them [NGOs] to voice more radical opinions. However, the government needs to take a more practical stance," Yang said.
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