Building a Healthier World: Harnessing Shared Values and Inclusive Collaboration for Global Wellness | Opinion

Referring to a May 1 article from Daily Sabah titled “Türkiye’s health tourism gets major upgrade for safety, quality,” it’s clear that Türkiye is taking significant steps to enhance its health tourism. The focus on patient safety, quality assurance, and digital integration positions Türkiye as a leader in promoting safer and more equitable healthcare.

These reforms mirror a global trend towards prioritizing quality, safety, and equity in healthcare systems. Taiwan, for instance, has been on a similar journey for decades.

### Taiwan’s Health Insurance Success

Taiwan launched its National Health Insurance (NHI) in 1995. Today, it covers nearly the entire population—99.9%. This system simplifies various insurance schemes into a single, unified plan, ensuring everyone has access to affordable healthcare. Funded mainly through payroll taxes and supplemental levies, the NHI is both sustainable and stabilizing.

For seven years straight, Taiwan has topped the global Health Care Index by Numbeo. This reflects high public satisfaction and reveals a system marked by transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. In Taiwan, patients can choose their healthcare providers and receive timely care—similar to what Türkiye aims for in its new health tourism standards.

### Embracing Digital Health

As Türkiye mandates digital tools to enhance service quality, Taiwan also leads in digital health innovation. The NHI employs a cloud-based system that facilitates seamless sharing of medical data, which boosts efficiency and reduces redundancies. Features like virtual health insurance cards and health monitoring apps empower patients, improving their autonomy and supporting better chronic disease management.

Taiwan’s commitment to international standards, such as the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), aligns with Türkiye’s goal of establishing a globally recognized digital health ecosystem.

### Commitment to Health Equity

Both countries recognize the importance of expanding healthcare beyond hospitals. Taiwan promotes community-based care through family physician programs and preventive health strategies. This approach focuses on early intervention and lifelong care, aiming for patient dignity and well-being, which aligns with Türkiye’s recent reforms.

Health equity is not just an internal goal; it has global implications. Taiwan believes in ensuring that no one gets left behind due to financial, geographical, or political barriers.

### Contributions to Global Health

Despite facing political challenges, Taiwan remains dedicated to global health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it generously donated over 54 million masks to various countries, including Türkiye, sharing its expertise on pandemic management.

Taiwan’s experience in reaching universal health coverage and utilizing digital health holds valuable lessons for many nations under similar pressures. The introduction of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in 2008 has supported evidence-based policymaking, enhancing resource allocation and innovation adoption.

### The Need for Inclusion in WHO

Unfortunately, Taiwan’s ability to participate meaningfully in the World Health Organization (WHO) has been hindered. This stems from misunderstandings about its status within the UN framework. Exclusion ignores the fact that health is a fundamental human right, as stated in the WHO Constitution. Ignoring Taiwan’s contributions compromises the effectiveness of global health cooperation.

Taiwan seeks not political recognition but the chance to contribute to global health objectives, particularly those focused on universal health coverage and emergency preparedness.

### Collaboration for Progress

Türkiye and Taiwan, although distant, share a vision for modern healthcare: patient-centered, digitally advanced, and inclusive. As Türkiye works to become a global health tourism hub, Taiwan is eager to collaborate on medical education and healthcare innovation.

We encourage the WHO to acknowledge Taiwan’s contributions and allow its inclusion in health discussions. Health challenges know no borders, and collaboration is essential for building a future where healthcare is universally accessible and innovative.

In these times, solidarity and knowledge-sharing among nations can pave the way for a healthier world, where no one is left behind.



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TAIWAN,HEALTH,WHO,Health care