Minister Lin discusses efforts to promote medical diplomacy with Minister Chiu.
 

Minister Chiu discusses efforts to promote medical diplomacy with Minister Lin.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan convened a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 14. A decision was made to form a cross-ministerial consultation task force and to invite medical institutions, healthcare businesses, industrial associations, and other experts that often cooperate in international cooperation projects to organize a Taiwan public healthcare team in conjunction with staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). By integrating public and private sector resources and harnessing the spirit of integrated diplomacy, the team will jointly implement a flagship initiative on smart medicine and healthcare as part of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, deepening Taiwan’s public health and medical cooperation with allies and other friendly countries.

As the first leader of Taiwan to hail from the field of medicine, President Lai Ching-te has drawn on his medical expertise and background to commit to growing Taiwan’s leading status in global healthcare. During his 2024 tour of the South Pacific, entitled “Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region,” President Lai bolstered cooperation with other countries through medical diplomacy, highlighting Taiwan’s contributions to global healthcare development.

Minister Lin and Minister Chiu expressed their hope of leveraging Taiwan’s competitiveness in public health and medical care to further enhance partnerships with diplomatic allies and other friendly countries. This would involve combining the strengths that Taiwan had developed in biotechnology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and ICT over the years under the Five Plus Two Innovative Industries and Six Core Strategic Industries programs implemented by former President Tsai Ing-wen. The ministers said they wanted the healthy Taiwan envisioned by President Lai to benefit the world while also assisting related Taiwanese industries to expand into overseas markets.

MOFA and the MOHW hold a cordial and constructive meeting.
 

MOFA and the MOHW hold a cordial and constructive meeting.

Minister Lin invited Minister Chiu and MOHW staff to attend today’s meeting at MOFA to discuss ways of sharing Taiwan’s public health experience and smart medical solutions with allies and other friendly countries through a smart healthcare cooperation program. Both parties agreed that human resources, technology, and capital should serve together as the three pillars for expediting the export of comprehensive smart medical care and health systems. They said that this would effectively assist allies in increasing healthcare capacity, as well as raise the efficiency of public health management, enhance people’s well-being, and advance local prosperity. They also said that by employing a model that uses medicine to steer a path for industry, they looked forward to helping create business opportunities for Taiwan’s smart healthcare sector and promoting further development in the global healthcare industry.

In addition, the ministers reviewed the highlights and successful results of Taiwan’s public health and medical care cooperation projects. One example was an initiative to enhance Paraguay’s health information management system, which had successfully laid the foundation for healthcare digitalization and would continue to be optimized and serve as a demonstration point for Taiwan’s smart healthcare projects in South America. Elsewhere, they said, a smart healthcare collaboration project between Taiwan and Belau National Hospital in Palau would continue to expand so as to increase Palau’s public health capacity. Views were also exchanged as to strengthening business participation mechanisms and improving the outcome of Taiwan’s joint endeavors with Guatemala, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini, and other allies.

During the meeting, Minister Lin pointed out that Taiwan’s medical assistance to allies could also benefit Taiwanese people. Citing his delegation’s involvement in a car accident that took place during his recent trip to Palau as President Lai’s special envoy, Minister Lin said that injured MOFA colleagues had been able to receive timely professional care and return safely to Taiwan due to the medical services provided in Palau by Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. He said this amply demonstrated the common good and value inherent in international medical cooperation.

In the future, MOFA and the MOHW will continue to work hand in hand with partners worldwide to deepen healthcare cooperation and make greater contributions to global public health and smart healthcare development based on the vision of a healthy Taiwan. They will also take joint steps to expand the presence of related Taiwanese industries in the international market and transform Taiwan into an economy on which the sun never sets. (E)