The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely thanks France-headquartered WMA Oct. 16 for adopting a general assembly resolution supporting Taiwan’s WHO participation. (MOFA)
 

The World Medical Association resolution supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the activities, mechanisms and meetings of the World Health Organization is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Oct. 16.

Adopted the day before during France-headquartered WMA’s 72nd General Assembly in London, the resolution called on the WHO to grant Taiwan observer status in the World Health Assembly so as to ensure the country’s participation on a substantive, timely and professional basis.

The WHA is the decision-making body of the WHO. Taiwan was excluded from the 74th edition of the annual gathering staged May 24 to June 1 in Geneva at the request of Beijing.

According to the resolution, the WHO should include Taiwan as a full participating party to the International Health Regulations as this will benefit the people, the global health organization, its member states and all related parties.

IHR is legal framework defining a country's rights and obligations in managing public health events and emergencies with the potential to cross borders. They are an instrument of international law legally binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO member states.

The MOFA said WMA backing is a positive development reflecting the professionalism and integrity of medical experts around the world. It further underscores the importance of Taiwan’s WHO participation to public health, as well as the international community’s recognition of the country’s quality medical care and successful disease-fighting measures, the ministry added.

WHO must take a professional and impartial stance, heed the WMA’s call, refuse to cave in to improper political interference and bring Taiwan into the fold, the MOFA said. In this way, the global health body will fulfil the principles of universality and equality enshrined in its constitution, the ministry added.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Doctor knows best! We thank the World Medical Association for its general assembly resolution supporting #Taiwan’s participation in all @WHO health programs & inclusion in the IHR mechanism. Yes! #TaiwanCanHelp realize #HealthForAll & #SDG3.” (SFC-E)