Two years into the pandemic, more than 510 million confirmed cases and more than 6.25 million deaths from COVID-19 have been reported around the world.
As nations continue to battle the pandemic, Taiwan’s achievements have been widely recognized.
Universal Health Coverage
Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which was launched in 1995, has played an important role in the fight against the pandemic. The NHI system provides comprehensive and high-quality health services, achieving universal (99.9 percent) coverage.Taiwan’s robust healthcare and NHI systems have safeguarded the people and ensured social stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the NHI’s comprehensive database and other up-to-date information systems have been critical in ensuring the successful application of digital technology for disease prevention.
Use of Technology for Epidemic Prevention
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, to reduce the risk of community transmission, the government implemented the Quarantine System for Entry by integrating NHI, immigration, and customs databases to allow for big data analysis.Data was introduced to the Digital Fencing Tracking System, which used the positioning system on mobile phones to monitor the whereabouts of people under home quarantine or isolation. Moreover, to ensure privacy, personal data captured was stored for a maximum of 28 days and then deleted.
To ensure that all residents would enjoy equitable access to medical masks as demand increased, people were required to use their NHI card to purchase masks under the name-based Mask Distribution System, helping to prevent an imbalance in supply and demand.
Vaccinations and Digital Certificates
To digitalize health care services, the NHI Express App was launched. It offers such features as vaccination appointments, personal health data, medical records, COVID-19 vaccination records, and test results. Taiwan joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate program at the end of 2021 and allowed citizens to apply for digital vaccination certificates and test certificates.Electronic Medical Records and Telemedicine
Taiwan has been building health information infrastructure since 2010, such as the electronic medical records (EMR) exchange system.Since May 2021, Taiwan has expanded its telemedicine services in healthcare institutions and included such services into NHI coverage as a means of reducing the risk of cluster infections at such institutions.
New Taiwan Model
Taiwan was able to contain the pandemic while having people lead normal lives and achieving positive economic growth through the precise use of technology, information transparency, strict border controls, and accurate screening and case investigation.
However, with the worldwide spread of the Omicron variant since the end of 2021, community transmission also began to increase in Taiwan. The variant appears to be much more contagious but to cause mild or no symptoms.
Trying to block the transmission of every single case would be an effort in vanity that would greatly affect people’s livelihoods. The government since April 2022 has therefore chosen to aim at eliminating severe cases, managing mild cases, minimizing the overall impacts, and caring for moderate and severe cases.
Strengthening People’s Resilience
With the introduction of rapid antigen test kits, Taiwan has shortened quarantines and reduced control measures, requiring confirmed cases to notify their close contacts to undergo home isolation and using electronic contact notification during the process.Preserving Healthcare Capacity
Taiwan has adopted a triage approach, having milder COVID-19 cases undergo home care and reserving hospital treatment for members of high-risk groups, such as moderate and severe cases and the elderly. During home care, people can access emergency medical consultations through mobile apps. A network of pharmacists and community pharmacies has been put together to provide consultations and deliver medicines.As of the end of April 2022, about 80 percent of the people in Taiwan have received a primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 60 percent have received a booster dose.
Taiwan Can Help, and Taiwan Is Helping
The world today continues to face challenges of the pandemic, vaccine supply, and the postpandemic recovery. Countries should work together and prepare for possible future pandemics.Taiwan is an indispensable partner in ensuring a successful postpandemic recovery. To contain the pandemic, Taiwan has continued to cooperate with other countries on the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs and has donated medical supplies, such as medical masks and medicines, to countries in need. This has demonstrated that Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping.
The 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held in May.
For the past five years, Taiwan has not been invited to participate in the WHA. To ensure that Taiwan is not left behind and there is no coverage gap in global health, Taiwan seeks to participate in the WHA this year in a professional and pragmatic manner, so that it can make contributions as part of the global effort to realize WHO’s vision of a seamless global disease prevention network.
We urge WHO and related parties to support Taiwan’s inclusion in WHO and allow it to fully participate in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities.
Taiwan will continue to work with the rest of the world to ensure that all enjoy the fundamental human right to health as stipulated in the WHO Constitution. In the spirit of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, no one should be left behind.
