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- The opening ceremony attracted more than 610 officials from allied nations and executives of global medical associations, including Daniel Cummings and Bertrand Sinal, health ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti, respectively; World Heart Federation CEO Finn Jarle Rode; and World Medical Association president Jacqueline Kitulu, reports MOFA.
TAIWAN / SWITZERLAND (TaiwanToday) – The Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo got underway May 17 in Geneva #WHA79 to spotlight the country’s critical role in promoting global health resilience.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and organised by Taipei City-based Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the three-day event is being held on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly (#WHA79), taking place May 18-23 in the Swiss city.
The opening ceremony attracted more than 610 officials from allied nations and executives of global medical associations, including Daniel Cummings and Bertrand Sinal, health ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti, respectively; World Heart Federation CEO Finn Jarle Rode; and World Medical Association president Jacqueline Kitulu, reports MOFA.
During his remarks at a press event, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the event is an example of the ministry’s medical diplomacy and underscores the government’s integrated diplomacy approach. The event’s theme of “WHO Cares? Taiwan Cares!” and a semiconductor-inspired logo paired with the slogan “Chip in with Taiwan” highlight the country’s world-leading IC and artificial intelligence technologies, as well as its critical role in the global smart medical supply chain, he added.
Citing the WHA’s theme of “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility,” Lin urged the World Health Organization Secretariat to look squarely at the immense benefits Taiwan can bring to the international public health and disease-prevention network.
Health and Welfare Minister Shih Chung-liang said that to spotlight Taiwan’s contribution to global health, the exhibition also included three forums: Cancer Policy and Innovation, Global Hepatitis C Elimination, and Smart Healthcare Implementation and Public Health System Upgrading. He also called on WHO member states to support Taiwan’s WHO membership and WHA participation.
The expo features 30 Taiwanese medical centers and businesses across the three areas of innovative medical institutions, smart healthcare and resilient medicine, as well as a dedicated area set up by Taipei-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) to showcase the achievements of Taiwan’s medical and humanitarian projects in Paraguay, Somaliland and Eswatini.
Taiwan’s health minister to lead delegation at WHA79-related activities