Representatives from the United States, India, and Taiwan jointly staged a hybrid workshop on advancing digital healthcare today, facilitated by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). This was the first program for South Asia under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). It was co-hosted by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. to India Patricia Lacina, Taiwan’s Representative to India Baushuan Ger, Honorable Minister of State for India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of AYUSH Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai, and the non-profit Voice of Healthcare. The workshop’s hybrid format allowed for in-person attendees in New Delhi and virtual participants from all over South Asia, Taiwan, and the United States. GCTF partners Japan and Australia also joined the event.
In her opening remarks, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Patricia Lacina stated that “the United States and India, together with partners like Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and others in the Indo-Pacific will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in efforts to protect citizens and the health of communities around the world from this pandemic and from future health emergencies.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk, and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Representative Hiroyasu Izumi delivered pre-recorded addresses. Minister Wu highlighted GCTF’s importance as a platform to utilize Taiwan’s strengths and expertise to address issues of global concern.
Since its launch in 2015, the GCTF has held over 40 international workshops to strengthen connections among experts on such topics as public health, supply chains, humanitarian assistance and other regional issues, benefiting participants from over 100 countries. The United States looks forward to continued collaboration with India, Taiwan, and like-minded partners to tackle shared challenges.
Key presenters in this workshop included Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, Health Attaché for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Wui-Chiang Lee, Deputy Superintendent of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Shri Sunil Kumar Bhushan, Deputy Director General of India’s National Informatics Centre at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Each speaker provided an overview of their respective health systems and highlighted areas for further collaboration.
