President Lai: Taiwan’s WHO Membership Would Boost Global Health

Key initiatives include expanding early cancer screening programs, integrating precision medicine into treatment plans, and improving access to cutting‑edge therapies. Taiwan is also developing a dedicated cancer‑drug fund and pursuing reforms to its National Health Insurance (NHI) system to ensure new treatments remain accessible and affordable.

These policies are part of a broader effort to reduce cancer mortality while accelerating medical innovation.

Hepatitis C Elimination Ahead of Global Targets

One of Taiwan’s most frequently cited public‑health successes is its progress in eliminating hepatitis C.

Taiwan achieved elimination goals five years ahead of the WHO’s global 2030 target, an accomplishment Lai attributes to coordinated screening, treatment access, and prevention programs integrated within the national healthcare system.

Officials say the milestone demonstrates how strong governance and universal healthcare coverage can accelerate progress against infectious diseases. Taiwan has also sought international recognition for the achievement and hopes to share its strategies with other countries pursuing similar targets.

Taiwan’s Health System as a Model

Lai also pointed to Taiwan’s healthcare system itself as a source of valuable experience. The island’s National Health Insurance program provides broad coverage and integrates data, prevention programs, and treatment services across the health system.

He emphasized that successful healthcare reform requires collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, private industry, and the public. Such partnerships, he said, are essential for building resilient health systems capable of responding to emerging challenges.

Continued Exclusion From the World Health Assembly

Despite Taiwan’s public‑health initiatives, the country remains excluded from the WHO and its governing forum, the World Health Assembly.

Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016 but has not received an invitation since then. In 2026, it was excluded for a tenth consecutive year amid geopolitical disputes over its international status.

China maintains that Taiwan cannot participate in WHO activities without its approval under the “one China” principle, a position that has effectively blocked Taiwan’s attendance at the annual assembly.

Taiwanese officials argue that the issue should be treated as a global health matter rather than a political one, saying that greater participation would allow the country to contribute its experience and protect the health rights of its population.

The Broader Argument for Inclusion

President Lai’s case rests on the idea that global health systems benefit when more expertise is shared internationally. Taiwan’s work in digital health, disease elimination, universal coverage, and medical innovation is presented as evidence that the country could add practical knowledge to WHO initiatives.

Whether Taiwan will regain a role in WHO forums remains uncertain. But the debate highlights a broader tension between geopolitics and global health cooperation—especially as digital technologies, pandemics, and aging populations reshape healthcare worldwide.