Taiwan's IHR compliance moves recognized by WHO

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on May 19, 2006. It reports that the World Health Organization recently received Taiwan's notification of its decision to implement and comply with the revised International Health Regulations ahead of schedule.

The revised International Health Regulations was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2005, and is scheduled to come into force in June 2007. The goal of the global framework is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease.

According to the World Health Organization's Assistant Director-General Denis Aitken, Taiwan's commitment to comply with the International Health Regulations means that it is covered by the global framework. The World Health Organization will do its best to ensure that there is no gap in Taiwan's Taiwan's disease control and prevention efforts.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that Japan welcomes Taiwan's early compliance with the International Health Regulations, even though Taiwan is not a member of the World Health Organization. Indeed, it is Japan's hope that Taiwan will be able to participate in the World Health Assembly in a way that is acceptable to all concerned parties.