Why the Taiwan Covid-19 Model Works?

Synopsis: Taiwan detected its 1st case of Covid-19 in January 2020. However, it managed to control the pandemic effectively despite the adverse circumstances. With India suffering heavily from Covid-19, it becomes important to have a good look at the Taiwan Covid-19 model.

Introduction

• A novel form of pneumonia was first emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019, and is called coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). It has caused more than 150 million cases and more than 3.1 million deaths worldwide.
• The disease has a huge medical, economic, and social impact across the globe. It has considerably threatened global efforts to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• Taiwan was expected to be one of the most severely affected countries by the virus because of its proximity to China. Taiwan did not ignore the Covid-19 alarms, given its experience of fighting the 2003 SARS outbreak.

Explain the Taiwan Covid-19 model

Taiwan gathered information from evolving official and unofficial accounts to understand the emerging disease i.e. Covid-19. It helped them in understanding the scope and severity worse than what the global public view suggested.

1. Firstly, the system used this information to launch superior monitoring in December 2019. They have vigorously implemented public health control methods ever since Taiwan’s first case was detected. They didn’t ignore warnings or public health containment measures unlike many other countries.
2. Secondly, Taiwan was benefitted by its experience in handling the 2003 SARS outbreak. It had an established nationwide infectious disease healthcare network. This network provides the legal authority for shifting patients with highly infectious diseases to chosen facilities.
   • This has helped protect health systems and health professionals from being overburdened. It also allowed most non-Covid-19 health services to continue.
3. Thirdly, Taiwan diminished the economic impact of Covid-19 by acting early and effectively. Taiwan implemented flexible measures to maintain vital international, social, economic, and trade activities.
   • It applied flexible quarantine measures for vessels and aircraft so that fisheries, offshore wind farms, and air transport industries could continue operations.
4. Fourthly, public trust and cooperation with the government’s response was equally important in successfully containing Covid-19. The government followed the principles of rational response, minimum damage, and steady adoption while framing disease control rules.
5. Fifthly, Taiwan has stressed the right to health and associated protections and strong opposition to human rights abuses. It prioritized the protection of disadvantaged groups, including migrant workers.
   • Taiwan’s response to Covid-19 has been very successful. It has proven that Taiwan cannot remain outside the global health network. It plays a key role in the global monitoring and early warning systems that detect the threat of emerging infectious diseases.

Way forward

• The Taiwan model has proven that it is capable of containing Covid-19. Taiwan will be able to work with the rest of the world by contributing to international Covid-19 supply chain systems, global diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics platforms.
• WHO and related parties should acknowledge Taiwan’s age-old contributions to the international community in public health, disease prevention, and the human right to health. Taiwan should be included in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities.
• As a result, Taiwan will work with the rest of the world to safeguard that all enjoy the fundamental human right to health as specified in the WHO constitution. Resonating with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals mantra, no one should be left behind.

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