Seeking to end the nation's international isolation, health officials and experts are formulating a new strategy to boost Taiwan's future World Health Organization (WHO) bid by proposing revisions to International Health Regulations (IHR).
"The World Health Assembly (WHA) will convene in early November to review drafts proposed by different countries, including Taiwan," said Peter Chang (
"Revising the IHR is a good opportunity for us to play an active role in the international community," he added.
At the beginning of the year, the department tasked an academic panel to study the IHR and find a way for Taiwan to contribute to the revisions. In June, Taiwan proposed its own draft of regulations to the WHA. In July, the academic panel visited the WHO's headquarter in Geneva.
"Taiwan is strong in the field of public health. Our experience with fighting SARS, for example, can benefit many other countries and reinforce the global disease prevention network," Chang said.
As the deadly avian influenza in Southeast Asia evolves rapidly, Taiwan could be the vanguard in combatting infectious diseases in the region, health officials said.
Also, the nation's strengths in AIDS prevention, epilepsy treatment and immunization programs can help improve the health situation in developing countries. "The question is how to open the door," Chang said.
Other scholars contended that the IHR guaranteed the equal access of every nation to health as a fundamental human right.
"The IHR state clearly that health is one of the fundamental rights of every person, without distinction against race, religion, political beliefs, social or economic situation," said Niu Huei-chih (
"By the law, there is no reason why Taiwan should be excluded," Niu said.
Yet Niu also said Taiwan has little leverage on the international law due to the nation's isolation in the international community. Since Taiwan is recognized as a "political entity" -- not an independent country -- it is not recognized by the UN or the WHO. In May this year, Taiwan's bid for WHO observership failed to get on the WHA's agenda.
Others think the presenting revisions to IHR presents a window of opportunity. "There are many ways medical professionals and diplomats can help Taiwan into the specialized agency and win the support of other countries," said Ho Mei-shang(
"Taiwan, as one of the US' allies, is a target of terrorism. Information sharing is of paramount importance. This is where the IHR set in," Ho said.
The IHR's purpose of the international health regulations is to ensure security against the international spread of diseases, with minimal interference with global travel.
"The regulations were originally intended to help monitor and control six infectious diseases: cholera, plague, yellow fever, smallpox, relapsing fever and typhus," said Chan Chang-chuan (
"For Taiwan and the world, the IHR now have a greater objective. Apart from uniting countries to fend off diseases, the regulations are also about rich countries helping poor ones," Chan said.
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