Source: MFA of Taiwan & February 17, 2025 Taiwan Today
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan held a meeting Feb. 14 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei City, highlighting government commitment to work together to enhance allies’ public health and medical care.
The two ministers decided to set up a cross-ministerial and agency advisory group, and a Team Taiwan platform focused on exporting smart medical and public health solutions overseas. The latter will comprise medical enterprises and institutions that have participated in international cooperation projects, experts from public and private associations and officials, the MOFA said.
The team will embody the spirit of integrated diplomacy and is expected to implement a health and smart medical care flagship plan under the country’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and its allies and partners, the ministry added.
The ministers agreed that funds, personnel and technology play vital roles in assisting allies and should be combined to strengthen medical capacity and public health management, the MOFA said. The ministry added that such aid will act positively to assist smart medical enterprises create further business opportunities abroad and expand the global market.
The ministers also discussed examples of ongoing collaborative projects, citing the Health Information System in Paraguay, which helped to lay a digital foundation for the south American ally’s medical care system; expansion of cooperation with Palau’s Belau National Hospital, as well as with other medical facilities in Eswatini, Guatemala, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Lin and Chiu both said that Taiwan is committed to deepening partnerships with allies and like-minded partners based on public health and medical care, as well as strong biotechnology and ICT industries consolidated by policies such as the five-plus-two innovative industries plan. Citing President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Pacific allies last November, the ministers pledged to to realize Lai’s Healthy Taiwan goal and raise the country’s profile in the international medical care community.
