In the spirit of this year's World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva from May 19 to 27, it is important to highlight Taiwan's long-standing contributions to global health.
Taiwan's national health insurance system covers more than 99,9% of the population and has been ranked first in the world for the seventh consecutive year, according to the Health Care Index published by Numbeo. Taiwan has also implemented international digital standards such as FHIR to enable global exchange of medical data and continues to share its experiences in digital health, universal coverage, and financial sustainability with healthcare partners around the world.
Taiwan has demonstrated its solidarity through concrete actions. In April 2025, a Taiwanese medical mission visited seven Ukrainian cities to provide cardiac, emergency, dental, and traditional Chinese medicine services to civilians affected by the war. This is the fifth such humanitarian mission to Ukraine. For years, Taiwan has supported international health projects around the world, offering medical expertise, capacity building, and technical assistance tailored to local needs. These efforts demonstrate Taiwan’s willingness and ability to contribute where help is needed most.
Despite its achievements, Taiwan remains excluded from the World Health Organization due to political pressure. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 do not authorize the People's Republic of China to represent Taiwan in the WHO. Therefore, there is no legal basis for Taiwan's exclusion.
The Republic of China, Taiwan is a sovereign state with its own democratically elected government, military, people, territory, and ability to cooperate with the international community. The People's Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan - not even for a single day. This is the status quo that we want to preserve because we value the freedom and democracy we have won after years of struggle against authoritarianism.
To achieve true universality in global health governance, Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Assembly and related mechanisms is essential. Recognizing Taiwan's contributions and supporting its meaningful participation will help build a more inclusive and resilient global health system.
The author is the Charge d'Affaires of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Hungary.
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