World Health Organization urged to invite Taiwan to join World Health Assembly
- Self-ruled island has been excluded from the WHO and other international organisations amid pressure from Beijing
- Supporters point to Taiwan’s success in combating Covid-19, with only seven deaths and fewer than 600 infections
As many parts of the world are reeling from surging numbers of Covid-19 infections and deaths, the WHO is due on Monday to resume its main annual meeting – the World Health Assembly (WHA) – which was cut short in May.
But while the meeting is expected to focus heavily on international coordination of the pandemic response, one international actor will not be present.
Taiwan has been excluded from the WHO and a number of other international organisations amid pressure from Beijing, which considers the self-ruled island as part of its sovereign territory.
But supporters point to Taiwan’s success in combating Covid-19, with only seven deaths and fewer than 600 infections since the start of the pandemic.
The World Medical Association (WMA), a confederation of national medical associations that jointly represent more than 10 million doctors, on Thursday called for that to change.
“We believe it is both cynical and counterproductive to continue excluding the health representatives from Taiwan from participating in the World Health Assembly,” he said.