By BiJing Tsai, Associate Director of STUF United Fund Inc.
STUF United Fund Inc. (STUF) was established in 2009 as an IRC 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Since its founding, STUF has continued to work in the areas of global philanthropy and United Nations engagement. STUF has been working in four major areas: disaster relief, humanitarian aid, culture and education, and public health and environmental protection. To date, STUF has conducted charitable projects in 35 countries on five continents to help people and communities in need and to share the core values of STUF: Share, Trust, Unity, and Family.
STUF United Fund holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), is an observer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), CoNGO (Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations), and the Global Health Council. Since 2017, STUF has hosted numerous side events during the UN HLPF (United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development) in New York. It has also organized global forums at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva since 2023, presenting Taiwan in various conferences and events to enhance international understanding and support for Taiwan.
Global Health Forum in Geneva, highlighting Taiwan’s achievement and global partnership
On May 20, 2025, the STUF United Fund hosted an international forum during the World Health Assembly (WHA) at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva. The event brought together global public health leaders and experts to explore the critical roles of regional cooperation, social participation, and innovation in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Eliana Monteforte, Director of International Advocacy and Engagement at the Global Health Council was the forum moderator. Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Dr. Tai-Yuan Chiu, delivered the opening remarks while Former Vice President Dr. Chien-Jen Chen delivered a keynote speech and shared Taiwan’s journey toward achieving UHC through its National Health Insurance system.
Experts from various regions contributed insights into their countries’ health policy models and challenges:
- Professor Vincent Rollet of Wenzao Ursuline University analyzed the European Union’s multifaceted role in promoting UHC—as a guardian, promoter, legislator, funder, monitor, and advisor. While core health services are widely covered in most EU countries, he noted gaps in primary care, dental services, and pharmaceuticals, especially for low-income populations. He called for stronger EU guidance, improved funding mechanisms, and regional insurance schemes to reduce health disparities.
- Yaye Sophie, Director of Partnerships and Development at Speak Up Africa, shared her personal experience during the 2022 Niger coup lockdown, when she was pregnant and contracted malaria but was unable to access treatment locally. Her story highlighted the harsh realities faced by African women. She proposed three priorities: placing women and youth at the center of decision-making, integrating health, water, and education funding under the “I-WASH” framework, and creating an open knowledge platform via Africa CDC to replicate successful models across the continent. She emphasized that without local manufacturing capacity, even the best strategies may fail.
- Dr. Chien-Jen Chen detailed Taiwan’s path to UHC, starting in 1995 with a single-payer system that replaced fragmented occupational insurance schemes. In 2013, a second-generation system introduced supplemental premiums for high-capital income earners. Today, Taiwan boasts 99.9% coverage, a $3.3 billion surplus in 2022, and top global rankings in healthcare quality. Key strategies include global budgeting, pay-for-performance, and digital tools like MediCloud and My Health Bank, which enable real-time access to prescriptions and health records. By the end of 2023, over 11.4 million users had accessed the platform. Telemedicine now reaches 54 remote areas through both doctor-to-doctor and doctor-to-patient models. Internationally, Taiwan supports West African lab capacity and guides Southeast Asian countries in health financing through tax reform.
- Dr. Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) South Asia Office, shared India’s efforts in advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and UHC. She emphasized that UHC must serve everyone, especially women, transgender individuals, and youth. She highlighted the importance of self-care tools, grassroots health education, and community engagement through initiatives like the “Walk the Talk” dialogue program, which has improved HIV prevention and health literacy. Dr. Khosa stressed that community involvement is essential for realizing health rights and equity, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants from Taiwan, the U.S., Europe, Africa, and beyond praised Taiwan’s contributions to global health and shared their own regional experiences and challenges. Through the forum, STUF aims to drive meaningful partnerships in global health policy.
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