Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of December 4, President Lai Ching-te attended the opening of the Taiwan Medical Association (TMA)’s International Symposium on Transforming Healthcare – Universal Health Coverage, AI, Green Healthcare and Collaborative Healthcare System. In remarks, President Lai stated that creating a Healthy Taiwan is one of the nation’s major policy goals, and that the government will continue to actively participate in global health governance, expand medical technology exchanges, promote the development of smart healthcare, build consensus on medical ethics, and develop resilient healthcare in the context of climate change. The president said that these efforts aim to keep Taiwanese healthcare current and our people healthy, and that Taiwan is ready and willing to make even greater contributions to the world.

A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows:

The World Medical Association (WMA) is one of the world’s leading professional organizations for healthcare. With 118 constituent members, it is profoundly influential in international healthcare ethics, empowerment for the healthcare community, and global health policy. Taiwan is honored to co-host this 2025 Open Expert Meeting with the WMA. We welcome our distinguished guests from around the world, and wish you all fruitful discussions.

I would also like to acknowledge the WMA’s long-time support for Taiwan. In 2021, it formally passed a resolution supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and World Health Organization. And every year before the WHA, it issues a public statement in support of Taiwan. For this, I want to express deepest thanks on behalf of the people of Taiwan.

I also want to thank the TMA for continuing to increase Taiwan’s visibility in healthcare and expand our global links through international cooperation. These efforts help the world recognize Taiwan’s professional excellence, future-oriented approach, and humanitarian values in the field.

As a physician myself, I understand how important a strong healthcare system is for our people, national security, and social resilience. With challenges such as an aging population, the growing burden of chronic diseases, and epidemic threat, creating a Healthy Taiwan is one of our major policy goals. We must take steps to advance and transform healthcare.

Our policies aim to keep Taiwanese healthcare current and our people healthy.

First, we initiated a healthcare policy transformation, using digital technology and AI to build a smart health system for all ages and settings, offering early warnings and timely intervention. This will help Taiwan shift from a healthcare model focused on disease treatment to one focused on prevention and health promotion.

The era of AI is here, so we are also leading ten new AI infrastructure initiatives. With enhanced AI, cybersecurity, and data governance, we are establishing a national cybersecurity system for healthcare, promoting medical information exchange standards, and setting up a verification and accountability system for AI applications. This will help us build a secure, interconnected, and trustworthy smart healthcare environment.

Our applications of AI have already shown promising initial results in areas from international epidemic monitoring, the My Health Bank personal health records service, and home-based care, to telemedicine, assistive technology, and our primary care platform.

In view of the global trend toward net-zero emissions, our government has already begun to discuss incorporating sustainable development into hospital accreditation, and is proactively assisting medical institutions with saving energy, net zero, and green transformation.

Many of us here are invested in the use of health databases and biobanks, which are crucial to advancing the biotech industry. In recent years, Taiwan has been working on legal amendments to support this sector. Our National Infectious Diseases Bank, which will be completed next year, will help further promote cooperation and exchanges in biotech between Taiwan and other countries.

We will continue to actively participate in global health governance and work with the WMA to expand medical technology exchanges, promote the development of smart healthcare, build consensus on medical ethics, and develop resilient healthcare in the context of climate change.

I would like to once again thank you all for supporting Taiwan and promoting deeper cooperation between Taiwan and the international community. Taiwan is happy to share our experience with the world, conduct joint research, and invest in and train talent. We are ready and willing to stand with the international community in the face of global health challenges, and make even greater contributions to the world.

Let’s keep working together for a brighter future. I wish everyone good health and success in all your endeavors. Thank you.

Also in attendance at the event were WMA President Jacqueline Kitulu, Council Chair Jack Resneck, Jr., and Secretary General Otmar Kloiber.