The ties between Taiwan and the Czech Republic have become closer recently. A joint statement on partnership against Coronavirus was announced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. We not only exchanged experience in pandemic prevention and control, but also timely donated each other anti-epidemic supplies and vaccines. For example, Taiwan donated five mask production lines and more than one million surgical masks to the Czech Republic, and the Czech Republic donated 30,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine when the pandemic was severe in Taiwan. Furthermore, the Czech Senate has passed resolutions supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly (WHA) for three consecutive years. The Czech government also spoke up for Taiwan for more than three years, stressing the importance of our observer status in the WHA. The Czech Republic is indeed a firm ally of Taiwan for our participation in global health affairs.

To further strengthen health cooperation, with joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), an MOU on health cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic is signed by Representative      Liang-Ruey Ke of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague and Representative David Steinke of Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei on July 14, 2023, witnessed by Minister Jui-Yuan Hsueh of MOHW, Deputy Minister Chun Lee of MOFA and Minister Vlastimil Válek of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. This MOU will be executed by Taiwan MOHW and the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. Areas of cooperation include global health security, digital health, medicines and medical devices, and management of hospitals etc. Under the framework of the MOU, substantive cooperation activities are conducted by cooperative programs, personnel exchange and training, bilateral visits, workshops, and conferences as well as establishment of contact points. This MOU aims to enhance substantive cooperation and continue to promote the health and well-being of the people in Taiwan and the Czech Republic.