TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will send a smaller delegation to this year's global health summit due to budget cuts, Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced on Thursday (May 8). The international travel budget reduction will force Taiwan to trim at least 10 experts from its World Health Assembly (WHA) team, though Chiu has vowed to maintain the same level of participation effectiveness despite the constraints.
The 78th World Health Assembly will begin May 19 in Geneva, Switzerland. Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨, Taiwan's main opposition party) Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) highlighted the significant international influence of Taiwan's medical experts during a legislative hearing, urging greater inclusion of Taiwanese specialists in global health forums. Addressing the Legislative Yuan's (Taiwan's parliament) Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, Minister Chiu described last year's diverse delegation and expressed determination to maintain essential team members despite the cuts.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Chiu confirmed that a core delegation will still attend the Geneva summit, prioritizing experts in research, food safety, medical administration, and mental health. He noted the National Health Research Institutes' (國家衛生研究院) significant contributions during last year's assembly but explained that current budget limitations have forced their exclusion from this year's Geneva trip, prompting officials to seek alternative funding arrangements.
Minister Chiu emphasized Taiwan's world-class medical standards and the critical importance of maintaining international health cooperation despite budgetary challenges. "Many countries still wish to interact with Taiwan," Chiu noted, adding that the island cannot afford to miss these valuable opportunities for global engagement and knowledge exchange in public health matters. ★