TAIPEI: Twenty-one major medical associations in Taiwan have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer in this year's World Health Assembly (WHA) and recognize its contributions to global health.According to Focus Taiwan, the 78th WHA, the annual meeting of the WHO's decision-making body, is scheduled to occur in Geneva from May 19-27. Despite this, Taiwan, which is not a member of the United Nations (U.N.), has yet to receive an invitation to the assembly as of Friday. This situation indicates that Taiwan is likely to be excluded from the WHA for the ninth year in a row. Nonetheless, the medical groups continue to advocate for Taiwan's participation annually.At a news conference, Taiwan Medical Association President Chou Ching-ming emphasized Taiwan's significant contributions to global health and expressed hope for Taiwan's invitation to the WHA as an observer. Chou highlighted Taiwan's health system's consistent top ranking globally for seven years, as per the Health Care Index by Numbeo, and described Taiwan's exclusion as profoundly unfair.Taiwan Union of Nurses Association President Chen Li-chin also addressed the event, arguing that the exclusion contradicts the WHO's principle that "health is a basic human right." Chen outlined Taiwan's achievements in COVID-19 prevention, medical technology, and international humanitarian aid, underscoring their relevance to global health challenges like emerging infectious diseases and aging populations.Shih Chin-shui, director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Office of International Cooperation, revealed that Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan plans to lead a delegation to Geneva next weekend, ahead of the WHA's opening. The delegation aims to engage with representatives from over 40 countries and major international organizations, though specific details of these meetings remain confidential.Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), exited the WHO in 1972 following U.N. General Assembly Resol ution 2758, which recognized the People's Republic of China as the "only legitimate representatives of China." Consequently, Taiwan has been excluded from the WHA, except from 2009 to 2016, when it participated as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei" amid warmer cross-strait relations.During the 2009-2016 period, medical and activist groups focused on changing Taiwan's WHA designation from "Chinese Taipei" to "Taiwan." However, Taiwan has not participated since 2016, just after former President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party took office.