IN early 2020, the sudden outbreak of Covid-19 severely impacted the entire world and caused almost a global shutdown, where families worldwide were faced with enormous upheaval and separation from beloved ones.
During this dark time, despite being not able to participate in the World Health Organisation (WHO), Taiwan was keen to make contributions to global health security by sharing pandemic prevention materials with people in need across borders.
Taiwan’s strong will to devote itself to healthcare should be attributed to the heritage passed down by Scottish missionaries who wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to Taiwan’s public health in the 19th century, bringing modern medicine to our country.
Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell (above), who was known as the father of medical missionaries in Taiwan, dedicated his life to providing Taiwanese patients with medical care and training missionaries and doctors.
Dr Maxwell was born in Scotland in 1836, and earned his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh. He was thereafter trained in Berlin and Paris, becoming an outstanding surgeon. He arrived in Taiwan in June 1865 and created a model for medical missionaries to help people in need.
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His devotion led to a far-reaching impact on the island. It was he who established Taiwan’s first Western-style clinic on June 16, 1865, in Tainan City, in southern Taiwan.
Dr Maxwell’s clinic played a vital pioneering role in the history of medicine in Taiwan and it turned into the prestigious SinLau Hospital in Tainan City.
Dr Maxwell’s second son, James Jr, succeeded his father as a medical missionary providing medical care in the SinLau Hospital, just as his father had for 36 years. Taiwan’s people referred to him as “Young Dr Maxwell.”
Now, Taiwan has the best healthcare system in the world. According to the 2024 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index, which surveyed 110 countries This achievement should be attributed to the efforts of Dr Maxwell and “Young Dr Maxwell”.
More Scottish missionaries followed Dr Maxwell and devoted themselves to missionary work in Taiwan. Thomas Barclay served in Taiwan from 1875 until his death in 1935. He established the Tainan Theological College and Seminary in 1876 and was responsible for introducing the first printed newspaper in Taiwan, the Taiwan Church News. Mr Barclay also completed the Taiwanese translation of the Bible. He is buried in Tainan and commemorated by the Barclay Memorial Church and Barclay Memorial Park.
Profoundly affected and inspired by Dr Maxwell, Taiwan is keen to share its knowledge of public health and medical care to help people in need worldwide.
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If Taiwan participates in the World Health Organization (WHO), it will be able to contribute much more to the international community.
My country would like to become the successor to Dr Maxwell and Mr Barclay by sharing its knowledge with and helping people and countries in need.
The 77th World Health Assembly is scheduled to take place from May 27 to June 1. In order to achieve our goal, Taiwan calls on the WHO to seek appropriate methods for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities to achieve greater health for all people everywhere.
Chi-hua Ding is Director General, Taipei representative office in the UK, Edinburgh office
NOTE: Taiwan participated as an observer to the WHA from 2009-16 but has since been excluded. It is excluded from most international organisations because of objections by China, which considers the democratically governed island its territory. The United States “strongly encourages” the WHO to reinstate Taiwan’s invitation.
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