Vice president calls for more international medical exchanges

2017/06/09

Vice President Chen Chien-jen called June 7 for increased international medical exchanges to prevent gaps in the global disease control network, adding it was “rather ridiculous” that Taiwan was unable to formally participate in this year’s World Health Assembly—the decision-making body of the World Health Organization.

The vice president made the comments during a meeting with participants of Mosaic Taiwan, an international youth leadership program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that kicked off May 31. This year’s program brings together 29 young students and professionals from Canada and the U.S. to experience the country’s culture, economy, history and society.

Since 1996, Taiwan has provided 80 countries around the world with over US$6 billion in medical and humanitarian aid, Chen said, adding that since 2006, the nation has sent upwards of 100 medical teams to help over 150,000 people in more than 20 countries. However, Taiwan was excluded from this year’s WHA for political reasons, which prevented it from accessing the latest medical information and sharing its valuable experiences and expertise with the world, he added.

This is the first time Taiwan has been excluded from the annual WHA since it was invited to attend in 2009 as an observer following an absence of 38 years.

Chen expressed gratitude to countries such as the U.S. and Canada for their support. Taiwan shares many common business and security interests with the two countries, Chen said, emphasizing that these nations are united through their shared values of cultural diversity, democracy, freedom and human rights.

The vice president encouraged the participants to actively engage in more exchanges during their visit, expressing his hope that they will be able to share their experiences of Taiwan when they return home.

Launched in 2014 for students and professionals aged 20-35, the two-week program features seminars, workshops and visits with representatives of the academic, private and public sectors, as well as trips to many of Taiwan’s important cultural, historic and tourist sites.
 

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=116521)