Minster Chiu leads our WHA delegation to actively hold bilateral talks with delegations from other nations. This event has been the most successful medical-related diplomatic record over the past years. 

The agenda of the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) has come to an end, and it is time to review the results and gains. After our delegation (led by the Minister of Health and Welfare, Wen-Ta Chiu) arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, the team divided up into smaller groups and held meetings with delegations from various nations. As of the morning of May 22, the delegation has completed bilateral talks with delegations from 49 nations. This number doubled the number of nations from last year (22 nations) and has set a new record high, which indicated that the medical diplomacy was quite successful. 
Minister Wen-Ta Chiu was pleased with the outcome. In addition to complimenting the members of the delegation on their hard work and effort, he also hopes that they seize the opportunity to reach out and gradually establish mutual relations with other delegations for the next possible cooperation. 

Minister Wen-Ta Chiu indicates that since 1997 the government has actively promoted the return to the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure the health interests of the Taiwanese people. Although Taiwanese petitions were repeatedly rejected, the Taiwanese government never gave up. Over the years Taiwan gradually made the world aware of the basic concepts that epidemics do not have borders by appealing for the health benefits and humanitarian rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people involving issues such as the spread of enterovirus, SARS, and H1N1 influenza epidemic. Taiwan was finally invited to participate as an observer in the 62nd World Health Assembly in 2009 after overcoming numerous obstacles. 
Over these years, the Minister of Department of Health led a delegation to attend the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland from mid to late May each year. The delegation would hold bilateral talks with nations such as the U.S., EU, and Japan during the assemblies. The number of sessions attended by the delegation gradually increased from 6 in 2009 to 22 in 2013, which showed that more nations are recognizing Taiwan’s health capabilities, and is willing to exchange important information with Taiwan. 

This year, Minister Wen-Ta Chiu set a high standard, which is to hold bilateral talks with 50 nations. The minister encouraged the 25 delegates to exert their full effort in completion of the goal. With this mission in mind, the delegation visited delegations from various nations without rests after arriving in Geneva at noon on May 17. In four days and without missing any opportunities, the delegation has completed bilateral talks with 49 nations. The process was arduous and tortuous, but the outcome was particularly pleasant. 

Minister Wen-Ta Chiu came across the Minister of Health of Brunei, whom he met in APEC and were long acquainted, after exiting the conference room. In their chat in the narrow hallway Minister Chiu invited the Minister to attend the Taiwan Health Forum and Talks, and exchanged their experiences on medical and health work. As an example of flexible medical diplomacy, this mode also had great effects in bilateral talks with Russia, the Vatican, and the Knights of Malta. 
Minister Wen-Ta Chiu believes that Taiwan’s strength in medical technology, national health insurance, public health, and disease prevention is the best motivator for promoting bilateral talks. The effort on providing partner nations with long-term support by major hospitals in Taiwan have made these nations grateful for Taiwan’s medical support, and has become the primary reason that various nations are willing to continue exchanges with Taiwan. 

The hospitals that have been quietly contributing efforts to Taiwan’s medical diplomacy include Taichung Veterans General Hospital (that supports Nauru), Chung Shan Medical University (that supports Tuvalu), Taipei Medical University Hospital (that provides medical corps stationed in Swaziland), Wan Fang Hospital (that provides medical corps stationed in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe), Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (that supports the Solomon Islands), and Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital (that supports Palau). Additionally, medical institutions that provide long-term medical support to Fiji and other countries include Changhua Christian Hospital, Taipei Hospital, Taichung Hospital and Taoyuan General Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Shuang Ho Hospital, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Puli Christian Hospital, and China Medical University Hospital. 

Keynote speeches of delegates from various nations at the 67th World Health Assembly ended at noon on the 21st. The committees A and B will continue to meet until the 24th regarding technical issues. Taiwan’s delegation is expected to attend the committee A to present 24 technical themes and 7 follow-up issues, including the relationship between climate change and health, prevention of violence against women, traditional medicine, promotion of healthy living, influenza pandemic preparedness, International Health Regulations (IHR), prevention and control of diseases of non-traditional nature, strengthening of health systems, millennium development goals, and toward universal health care. 

After speaking in the World Health Assembly, Minister Wen-Ta Chiu immediately flew to Berlin, Germany at noon on the 21st to meet with the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany and exchange experiences on long-term care and insurance systems. The objective of this exchange is to strengthen the cooperation between Taiwan and Germany. Minister Chiu stressed that only by active participation can Taiwan’s voice be heard in the international arena and allow the international community to understand Taiwan’s current status and circumstances in promoting participation in the WHO. Active participation also allows Taiwan to expand opportunities for participation in the WHO and international activities. 
The deputy head of the delegation and Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Shu-Ti Chiou have experienced the importance of medical and public health capability. Thailand representatives actively contacted Taiwan delegates in the afternoon of the 21st; through bilateral talks, Thailand representatives understand in depth reasons for Taiwan’s success in promoting breastfeeding. Thailand representatives also requested Taiwan delegates to share relevant laws, regulations, and experiences. Because of a lack of obstetricians, Tanzania in Africa has high maternal and infant mortality. Thus, Tanzania hoped that Taiwan can assist them with training midwives to solve the problem of professional manpower shortage. 
Shu-Ti Chiou stated that opening a professional midwife class can attract many students from different nations. After completing the training, these students can become trainee teachers in their countries and train more people. Opening such a class can also expand Taiwan’s diplomatic relations with beneficial and effective outcomes. She confidently stated that by exerting additional effort for the next two days, Taiwan’s bilateral talks can exceed 50 meetings and break Taiwan’s medical diplomatic record.