The Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan held the second series of talks on global health governance and politics on Thursday. Experts and scholars such as National Taiwan University’s Professor of Public Health Chen Hsiu-hsi (陳秀熙) joined in discussions about the importance of Taiwan signing the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
A draft of the WHO Pandemic Agreement is expected to be finalized at the 77th World Health Assembly this year. The 37 articles of the agreement include frameworks detailing research and development, access and benefit sharing, and sustainable financing, with the aim of improving pandemic prevention, surveillance, and response.
Chen expressed his hope that Taiwan can join forces with the international community in the interest of global human rights and health equality. He called on all relevant government departments to take action to ensure Taiwan’s participation.
CEO of Taiwan’s Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉) also pointed out that Taiwan is a strong manufacturing, transshipment, and research and development node for pandemic prevention materials in the Asia-Pacific region. If it cannot be formally included in the agreement, Lin suggests it should attend as an observer. She further suggests the Pandemic Agreement be domestically legalized and implemented as part of the "Taiwan can help" promise.
