President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 23 that the government will continue sharing Taiwan’s health care know-how while collaborating with the international community in achieving the World Health Organization’s goal of Health For All.
 
The Taiwan Model is widely recognized as one of the most successful approaches in combating coronavirus, Tsai said. It includes the country’s experience managing the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, 14-day mandatory quarantine, early diagnosis and detection, mask wearing, social distancing, and utilization of big data analysis and digital technology, she added.
 
Equally important, Tsai said, was the National Health Insurance system. The NHI’s expansive database enables effective track and tracing—a core component in managing the pandemic, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the Taipei City-staged Global Health Forum in Taiwan.
 
According to Tsai, Taiwan is first among the 75 economies in the Bloomberg Economics’ ranking from July based on performance in responding to COVID-19. The government is working to springboard off this healthy state of affairs by fast-tracking development of a vaccine to strengthen the country’s response to the disease, she said.
 
Taiwan is working tirelessly to assist countries and territories by sharing essential coronavirus-combating items like medical technology, pharmaceuticals and surgical masks, Tsai said. No effort is being spared in building up a disease prevention network and promoting health care collaboration with New Southbound Policy target countries, as well as boosting medical industry cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific, she added.
 
Case in point, Tsai said, is the establishment of the Digital Health Subworking Group during the first Health Working Group Meeting under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Malaysia earlier this year.
 
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank allies and like-minded partners for advocating Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the WHO. Taiwan Can Help strengthen the global response to COVID-19, she added.
 
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (YCH-E)
 
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