Inquirer
Date: May 19, 2019

The 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest policy-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 20 to 28, 2019. Taiwan will be excluded from the WHA for the third year in a row, as the WHO is facing political pressure from China.

The 23 million people of Taiwan are suffering from deprivation of their global health rights, which is extremely unfair. As the world’s 22nd biggest economy, Taiwan’s participation in the WHA should not be subject to China’s bullying and interference. Taiwan has the rights it deserves to participate in the WHA. The health rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people should not be ignored.

Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHA will allow its full contribution to the global village in terms of abundant medical experiences, resources, and excellent medical professionals. Taiwan’s medical professionals can do so much more to interact with other medical experts in the global medical community, if it is freed from the political shackles imposed by an overbearing China which is trying to suffocate Taiwan and its people’s breathing space in the international arena.

Regrettably, by blocking Taiwan’s bid to join the WHO has put Taiwan at public health risk and made a dangerous loophole in the global public health front.
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