Another Taiwanese civil society group is planning to send a delegation to Geneva for the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) to promote Taiwan’s medical achievements. The Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) held a press conference on May 15 announcing the promotional delegation, which will travel to Geneva on May 18. TAIUNA is an organization which advocates for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and other international forums. As a non-UN member state, Taiwan has not been invited to join this year’s WHA as an observer, but has done so in previous years. Other civil society groups have recently announced their intention to travel to Geneva as well.
TAIUNA board member Shih Shu-hua (史書華) says this year's WHA holds particular significance. He says that Taiwan’s contributions to the international medical community during the pandemic are obvious, and this year marks the first in-person WHA meeting since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Formosan Medical Union board member Dr. Wu Hsin-tai (吳欣岱) also plans to join the trip. Wu says she will bring a banner signed by Taiwanese medical professionals to Geneva and will invite healthcare workers from other countries to sign it as well.
Additionally, the group says it intends to screen the Taiwanese documentary “Hoping” in Geneva. The film highlights how Taiwan safely navigated the hospital crisis during the pandemic and confronted the challenges from both politics and healthcare systems.