2023-05-19 08:23:49
As the world enters the fourth year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation is improving. Most border restrictions have been lifted and global health governance has shifted from pandemic response to pandemic recovery. Countries around the world are striving to achieve health and well-being for all, as well as the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have been impacted by the pandemic.
Taiwan fully supports the health-related SDGs and the three billion goals of the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan is thus committed to building a more resilient and equitable healthcare supply chain, maintaining a fair and inclusive universal healthcare coverage system and providing disease prevention and management through a strong health care system. Taiwan is willing and able to share its experience with a multi-sectoral and innovative approach to health for all, to help the international community work towards achieving the health and well-being SDGs.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan effectively limited the spread of the disease by activating all the levers of its comprehensive public health system, with well-trained personnel and means of epidemiological surveillance, investigation and analysis. . Taiwan’s pandemic response model put in place upstream actions and rapid responses. To this were added other measures such as border controls, a coordinated distribution of medical resources as well as a patient transfer system to control the pandemic at a time when vaccines and drugs were not available.
Taiwanese themselves have played a key role in the success of the Taiwanese model to counter the pandemic by wearing surgical masks, respecting social distancing, avoiding crowded places, respecting quarantine rules and being safe. vaccinate. Compared with the 38 members of the OECD and Singapore, Taiwan has the 6th lowest rate of Covid-19 cases and deaths. Taiwan is also in 4th place for vaccination rate with at least one dose and 3rd place for booster rate.
Promote health for all
Last year, the WHO Director-General outlined five priorities for the next five years: promoting health, delivering care, protecting health, making progress and achieving results. Moreover, WHO’s overall scheme for integrating well-being with public health using a health-promoting approach demonstrates this organization’s commitment to health for all.
In Taiwan, the universal health insurance system dates back to 1995. Since then, the government has continued to provide health and disease prevention services so that people of all ages can enjoy the right to health. . For maternity hospitals, Taiwan offers prenatal check-ups, pre-diabetes screening, anemia testing and three ultrasound examinations to reduce pregnancy-related risks and ensure the health of mother and child. To help infertile couples and reduce the financial burden of in-vitro fertilization, the government offers subsidized infertility treatment programs. Taiwan also strives to provide a supportive environment for breastfeeding and preventive pediatric care as well as child health education.
Additionally, Taiwan has implemented a number of prevention and treatment programs for non-communicable diseases. For example, programs dedicated to chronic metabolic diseases offer help to groups at risk, with advice on diet or exercise, or quitting smoking or chewing betel nuts, so that everyone to take control of their own health. These initiatives advance life and reduce the incidence of hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, which often result in chronic diseases. Taiwan is also a stakeholder in the global fight against cancer and the WHO’s goal of reducing the cancer mortality rate by 25% by 2025. In line with the WHO initiative to to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, Taiwan subsidizes cervical examinations and the human papillomavirus vaccine. This vaccine has been administered to adolescent girls aged 12 to 15 since December 2018, with a coverage rate of 92.1% in 2022.
Innovative technologies and universal health coverage
Taiwan’s national health insurance system is an excellent example of universal health coverage, which provides financial protection and access to a wide range of essential services. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted the international community to recognize the importance of regional cooperation and digitization of healthcare. Taiwan is committed to promoting digital health and innovation to facilitate accessibility and quality of care, including a proposed next-generation health insurance program. Taiwan offers innovative health services, uses real-time teleconsultations for patients residing in remote places or off-shore islands, and studies the applications of artificial intelligence or other emerging technologies. During the pandemic, Taiwan issued 13 export licenses of its herbal formula NRICM 101 (Taiwan Chingguan Yihau) to help countries in the region fight the virus. Taiwan is putting in place post-pandemic preventive measures, such as boosting local production of important drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients to avoid future drug shortages. Aware of the importance of working with the international community, Taiwan will continue to share innovative technologies and methods of excellence with its partners around the world to advance towards universal health coverage.
Taiwan can help, Taiwan helps
Taiwan has not been invited to the World Health Assembly since 2017. Now that the Covid-19 outbreak is subsiding and discussions about strengthening health systems around the world are intensifying, Taiwan should not to be left out. Taiwan can help, and Taiwan’s inclusion would make the world healthier, more sustainable, and fairer.
Taiwan calls on the WHO and all stakeholders to support its inclusion in the World Health Assembly as an observer, as well as its full participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms and activities. Taiwan will continue to work with the world to help ensure the fundamental right to health which is enshrined in the WHO Constitution. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, no country should be left behind – especially not Taiwan, which contributes significantly to public health around the world.
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