The world has seen high-standard, quality work from our nation in national health insurance, health promotion, infectious disease prevention and other areas. Our experience can serve as valuable references for other countries. In our participation of past WHA discussions, we shared with the world our achievements in medicine and health industries, offered professional advice on the issues discussed, and made other professional, practical contributions.

Health work should not be restricted by national boundaries. Only through international collaboration can global health be ensured, and Taiwan is an indispensable partner for the maintenance of global health. Only when Taiwan joins WHO will there be no loopholes in the global epidemic prevention endeavors and the risk of disease transmission minimized. The membership will enable Taiwan to contribute to the world more substantially with its professional work.

As of now, the MOHW has yet to receive an invitation for the 70th WHA. We would like to express our regrets and dismay at this omission. We are particularly upset about the breach of Taiwanese citizens’ health rights and the consequent loopholes in global health. During his visit to Geneva this time, Minister Chen will hold several bilateral and multilateral meetings to minimize the impact of WHO’s exclusion of Taiwan. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will continue to strengthen the mutual collaborations between Taiwan and the health ministries of other countries, as well as international health organizations, to protect our citizens’ health rights.