Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (Photo by Chin Hung-hao)

New Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) has been a major figure in Taiwan’s campaign missions to Geneva for participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Health Assembly (WHA) for years. The former family medicine doctor at National Taiwan University Hospital and president of Taiwan Medical Association shares Taiwan’s achievements in advancing health at home and abroad as well as thoughts on the justification for the country’s deeper engagement in global health affairs.

Dr. Kirubel Abebe Kebede, center, from Ethiopian in laparoscopic surgery with colleagues at Taipei Hospital (Courtesy of Taiwan International Healthcare Training Center)

Taiwan has accumulated decades of experience in health care service which benefits people at home and abroad. Can you elaborate on this?

Chiu Tai-yuan: The National Health Insurance initiative is crucial in ensuring the health of people in Taiwan. It reduces economic obstacles to receiving medical services, fulfilling the goal of health for all in our country. Today the system covers nearly 100 percent of residents and achieves a 91.2 percent satisfaction rate. Many health care experts have come to Taiwan to understand how to replicate the program back in their native countries.

Equally important is the quality of our medical professionals, which received a major boost after SARS hit Taiwan in 2003, prompting the government to require all medical graduates to have postgraduate training. During this postgraduate period, which lasts two years, they rotate through different hospital departments and in this way gain experience in various aspects of medicine and enhance their interprofessional collaborative skills. In many hospitals there is a particular emphasis on epidemic resilience as Taiwan was at the forefront of SARS and then COVID-19 in 2019, and the lessons learned have been implemented into our medical training.

Over the years Taiwan has made its mark globally through various medical achievements. Taiwan leads the world with an 82 percent five-year survival rate post-liver transplant. Moreover, the first successful heart transplant operation in Asia was also performed in Taiwan. The success rate for cleft lip and palate surgeries is 100 percent. Taiwan’s hospitals constantly develop new medical techniques, 38 of which are currently being tested in clinical settings.

The Taiwan Health Center in the Marshall Islands provides regular checkups for early detection of chronic disease in local residents. (Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare)

As Taiwan stands out for achieving health for all at home, it is also sharing its medical strengths worldwide. How does Taiwan play a role in fulfilling this goal internationally?

Chiu: Medical personnel training is central to Taiwan’s global contribution. For example the Taiwan International Healthcare Training Center [TIHTC] has been hosting overseas medical professionals since its founding in 2002. Run by Taipei Hospital in New Taipei City under the Ministry of Health and Welfare [MOHW], the center has trained more than 2,100 medical professionals from around 80 countries. They came to learn techniques and background in various disciplines from emergency care and traditional Chinese medicine to health care management. Their Taiwan experience helps improve the quality of medical services and formulate government policy on health care back in their home countries.

As to the New Southbound Health Cooperation and the Development of Industrial Chains Project initiated by the MOHW in 2018, it focuses on South and Southeast Asian countries. The initiative deepens exchanges through mutual visits and meetings as well as encouraging the cultivation of medical professionals from partner hospitals. Thirteen Taiwan medical centers are now assigned to facilitate cooperation with counterparts in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. These international hospital cooperative relations have brought Taiwan much closer to these countries.

Vietnamese professionals give the thumbs-up at a training session at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. (Courtesy of International Medical Service Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital)

Despite Taiwan’s desire to improve human well-being through its experience in health care, it’s still denied access to the WHO and its decision-making body the WHA. What’s your reaction to the situation?

Chiu: Time and again Taiwan has been cited as one of the top nations in health care service, most recently ranking first in CEOWORLD Magazine’s 2024 Health Care Index based on a survey of 110 countries. Taiwan also ranked top of Numbeo’s Health Care Index for six consecutive years. These underscore the importance of Taiwan’s participation in the WHO, as our expertise and knowledge can significantly advance global health.

Taiwan’s achievements in health care are so profound that I feel the urge to seize every opportunity at international events to fight for the country’s status in the global health care community. I focused this both when I was president of the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine in earlier years from 2008 to 2014 and during my presidency of the Taiwan Medical Association [TMA] from 2016 to 2022. TMA, the largest medical organization in Taiwan, has long been an important force in working with the government for Taiwan’s WHO bid. It’s a long-standing and important member of the World Medical Association, which gives unfaltering support to Taiwan because they know our country is willing and able to assist and share expertise. Additionally, in the year after I became a legislator, I founded the Global Healthcare Exchange Promotion Association in our Legislative Yuan. This cross-party organization is another force for Taiwan’s substantive participation in global health affairs.

Representatives from National Taiwan University Hospital and Indonesia’s National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita display a signed memorandum of understanding. (Courtesy of International Medical Service Center, National Taiwan University Hospital)

Taiwan will continue campaigning to become a greater contributor to humanity’s well-being. We could take on a larger role by participating in the Pandemic Agreement, a proposed WHO framework which will be under discussion at the 77th WHA. It aims to guide signatories to work together against future pandemics. Allowing Taiwan to participate in the pact is essential for the world, especially considering Taiwan’s participation would enhance information transparency and fill a geographical vacuum in the global health surveillance network. For example, in 2013 and 2017 Taiwan notified the international community of H6N1 and H7N9 avian influenza cases and shared the virus’ genetic sequence so that countries could respond in advance.

Furthermore, real-time access to pathogen and related genetic sequence information ensures timely research and development of relevant diagnostic products and vaccines. Taiwan has world-class biotechnology and medical treatment capacities, plus the willingness to contribute. A number of rapid tests and a vaccine were developed locally during the COVID-19 pandemic. The manufacturer even out-licensed its vaccine technology to the WHO COVID-19 Technology Access Pool and the Medicines Patent Pool. Excluding Taiwan is a great loss to global health security. This is especially true as we are often at the forefront of health threats originating in China due to the proximity and the heavy passenger flow between Taiwan and China.

Thai nurses at Taiwan International Healthcare Training Center learn about intensive care services. (Courtesy of Taiwan International Healthcare Training Center)

Next, I would like to reiterate that the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 only addresses the issue of China’s representation by the PRC in the United Nations. At no point does the text of the resolution mention Taiwan. It is mischaracterized by China and doesn’t preclude Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system. Bringing attention to this fact encourages the international community to show strong support for Taiwan’s bid for access to WHO mechanisms, meetings and activities.

At the 76th WHA in 2023 more countries supported Taiwan’s participation than ever before, with 13 like-minded countries in total expressing solid support including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States in addition to our diplomatic allies. Taiwan will continue building substantial relations with allies and like-minded countries while campaigning for international support. The world will be better equipped to handle global health challenges if Taiwan is on board and part of the system.

Taiwan provides high-quality heath care services, significantly raising well-being levels for people at home and abroad. (Photo by Kent Chuang)