Vice President Annette Lu (
"Taiwan's medical services have met the world's standards and it has taken part in many international humanitarian relief programs to help other countries in need ... It is fully qualified to become a WHO member," Lu said. "It should not be barred from the WHO simply because of Beijing's opposition."
Lu made the appeal while addressing the opening of the 17th Asian Occupational Health Symposium at Taipei's Grand Hotel.
PHOTO: CNA
In spite of opposition from China, Taiwan has been making efforts to gain membership in international organizations, such as the UN and the WHO.
In addition, the government has been seeking support for its moves at any and all official and non-official occasions.
When President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) met with members from the UK House of Commons' Commerce and Industry Committee at the Presidential Office in June, he urged the British delegation to support Taiwan's bid for membership in the WHO.
"Medical and health affairs are borderless issues and it is Taiwan's right and obligation to make contributions in the field," Chen said at the time.
When she addressed an international health and medical conference in August, Department of Health (DOH) Specialist General Hsiao Mei-ling (蕭美玲) said that Taiwan hopes to achieve its goal of entering the WHO by increasing its international humanitarian aid and also by boosting multilateral and bilateral cooperation.
Hsiao said the DOH will strengthen its cooperation with the international community and participate in activities held by non-governmental organizations.
In the latest effort to promote Taiwan's international identity, Lu expressed her concerns about Taiwan's occupational health problems in her speech to the scholars and health experts from more than 20 countries.
"Taiwan's economic success will dim a lot if our government, employers, labor unions and medical institutions fail to pool resources to protect the health of all workers and improve the workplace environment," Lu said.
She said that employers should refrain from creating their own wealth at the expense of their employees.
Lu called on international experts at the conference to provide their advice for the island on how to establish a better medical system and on how to prevent occupational injuries and diseases.
In addition, Lu said that she thought more emphasis should be placed on the preservation of the natural environment and on the promotion of the health and well-being of all people, regardless of their wealth or social status.
The four-day seminar has brought together more than 500 occupational health scholars and experts from the US, China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Taiwan and several other countries.
The seminar's agenda includes 16 main themes related to occupational health -- including air pollution, cancer and climate changes.
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