What is the issue?
- Due to its proximity to China, Taiwan was expected to be one of the countries most severely affected by the pandemic.
- But given its experience of fighting the 2003 SARS outbreak, Taiwan has dealt and is dealing well with COVID-19; here is an overview on that.
What was Taiwan’s initial response?
- First of all, Taiwan did not ignore the alarms.
- It took seriously the evolving official and unofficial accounts, to form a picture of the emerging disease.
- Authorities used this information to launch enhanced monitoring in December 2019 itself.
- They have tirelessly implemented public health containment measures since Taiwan’s first case was detected in January 2020.
What is the mechanism involved?
- After dealing with SARS, Taiwan established a nationwide infectious disease healthcare network.
- It provides the legal authority for transferring patients with highly contagious diseases to designated facilities.
- This has helped protect health systems and health professionals from being overwhelmed.
- It also allowed most non-Covid-19 health services to continue.
What were the other measures?
- By acting early and effectively, Taiwan also mitigated the economic impact of Covid-19.
- It implemented flexible adjustments for related quarantine measures for vessels and aircraft.
- This helped fisheries, offshore wind farms, and air transport industries continue operations.
- It ensured maintaining essential international, social, economic, and trade activities.
- Furthermore, public trust and cooperation with the government’s response have been key to successfully containing Covid-19.
- In formulating disease control regulations, the government has adhered to the principles of reasonable response, minimum damage, and gradual adoption.
- It also maintained the balance between people’s right to know and personal privacy and freedom.
- It upheld the principle of fairness as well as prioritised the protection of disadvantaged groups, including migrant workers.
- Throughout, Taiwan has emphasised the right to health and associated protections and strong opposition to human rights abuses.
Why is Taiwan’s role in COVID handling significant?
- As of April 30, 2021, there had been 1,128 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, in Taiwan.
- Life and work have continued much as normal for the majority of the population.
- Taiwan’s response to Covid-19 has been one of the world’s success stories.
- It plays an indispensable role in the global monitoring and early warning systems that detect the threat of emerging infectious disease.
- It has been able to comprehensively participate in and contribute to international Covid-19 supply chain systems, as well as global diagnostics, vaccine, and therapeutics platforms.
- It has made significant longstanding contributions to the international community in public health, disease prevention, and the human right to health.
- This would allow Taiwan to work with the rest of the world.
- These, thus, validate Taiwan’s demand to be included in WHO and its meetings, mechanisms, and activities.
Source: The Indian Express
