AmCham arrow Publications arrow Topics Archive arrow Topics Archive 2005 arrow Vol.35- No.7 arrow Editorial: Pluses and Minuses in Public Health
Editorial: Pluses and Minuses in Public Health PDF Print E-mail

Much of this issue of Taiwan Business TOPICS is devoted to questions relating to public health, one of the two main themes (the other is human resources) selected by the AmCham Board of Governors for priority attention this year. In addition to the four stories comprising the cover section, public-health concerns are also taken up this month in the Issues column and in third installment of the "Eye on Public Health" series of advertorial announcements.

 

Why should a business organization be so concerned about matters of public health? A totally business-related answer is that the health of employees has a direct bearing on productivity, while that of consumers affects the vitality of the market. A broader perspective is that investors regard a country's public-health conditions as one of the best indicators of its level of economic development and degree of competitiveness. And perhaps most importantly, as good corporate citizens the multinational companies operating here genuinely care about the well-being of those living in this society - as borne out by our member companies' many programs dedicated to corporate social responsibility.

Among the articles in the cover section, two provide cause for some satisfaction with current developments. In particular, the report on Taiwan's post-SARS preparedness to deal with another severe epidemic show that the necessary lessons really appear to have been learned and are being implemented. While there is no guarantee that execution will be flawless in the midst of a crisis, the direction is sound. In addition, the report on the construction of household wastewater treatment systems offers hope that Taiwan is finally coming to grips with its appallingly low rates of sewerage connectivity (although correcting the problem will be an expensive, long-term proposition).

Less encouraging are the articles concerning the rampant counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals and of agro-chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Both represent direct threats to consumer health - one directly and the other through the food supply. But although these issues perennially appear in the Taiwan White Paper, the amount of progress made in addressing them has been frustratingly disappointing. One reason that has been frequently cited in TOPICS is the inability of many judges to appreciate the severe dangers to health posed by fake drugs and agro-chemicals. Perhaps the voice of the medical community needs to be heard more loudly to help educate them on this score.

With specific reference to pharmaceutical counterfeiting, the article identifies two other steps that could help remedy the situation:
* Police acceptance of a Department of Health request that the manufacture or distribution of counterfeit drugs be labeled a "major crime," which would increase the rewards to law-enforcement agencies for cracking such cases.
* Government pressure on the pharmacist associations to start suspending or revoking the licenses of members who stock counterfeit goods.

The success achieved in reducing the volume of counterfeiting of CDs and DVDs shows that solutions are possible. What is needed is determination and persistence.
 
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