Data Empowerment for Collective Good: Registration Now Open for TaiwanICDF’s 2026 WHA Side Event Forum

(中央社訊息服務20260508 10:49:10)To continue promoting Taiwan’s experience in smart healthcare and to align with global health development trends, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) will host an international forum titled “Data Empowerment for Collective Good: Smart Healthcare Implementation and Public Health System Upgrading” on May 19 in Geneva, Switzerland, during the World Health Assembly (WHA). The event will take place at Hotel President Wilson and is co-organized with the Central American Integration System (SICA) and Terre des hommes (Tdh). Distinguished experts and representatives from the global public health and medical sectors will be invited to explore the vision and future of digital health.

Since 2018, the TaiwanICDF has organized side events during the WHA, and this year marks its ninth edition. The theme of digital health transformation will take center stage. Opening remarks are expected from a representative of Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and Mr. José Renán De León Cáceres, Executive Secretary of SE-COMISCA under SICA. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Velephi Okello, Director of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health of Eswatini. The keynote speech will be delivered by Ms. Mathilde Forslund, Executive Director of Transform Health, on the topic: “Data Governance: From Algorithms to Decision-Making—Driving the Invisible Revolution in Smart Public Health Governance.”

In the panel discussion, Ms. Cathy Wang, Director of the Department of Humanitarian Assistance at the TaiwanICDF, will share TaiwanICDF’s experience in supporting countries with limited resources to evolve from foundational system development to integrated applications. Mr. José Renán De León Cáceres will also discuss cross-border collaboration in developing and applying the AI tool AVI One Health. Mr. Kallol Mukherji, Deputy Director of Digital Health Programs at Tdh, a long-term Switzerland-based partner of the TaiwanICDF, will present on “Rights-Based Data Empowerment: Bridging the Digital Divide to Advance Smart Healthcare.” Additionally, Mr. Sameer Kanwar, Director of Digital Health and AI at PATH, will share insights on implementing smart healthcare programs in developing countries. The forum will conclude with closing remarks by Deputy Secretary General Stephen J. H. Lee of TaiwanICDF, summarizing key outcomes.

Deputy Secretary General Peifen Hsieh noted that smart healthcare is one of the key focus areas in Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s “Eight Flagship Programs” of the “Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.” The TaiwanICDF leverages digital empowerment to assist partner countries in upgrading their public health systems—enhancing healthcare accessibility while building digital resilience. Through this forum, the TaiwanICDF aims to exchange experiences with partner countries, international organizations, and NGOs, explore further collaboration opportunities, and strengthen Taiwan’s visibility and impact in the global public health arena.

The forum will be conducted in English and is open to interested participants worldwide. Registration is available via the TaiwanICDF website. For more information, please follow TaiwanICDF’s official Facebook page.

Registration link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/1Bh_rDzlv1ZbaJg8MvHwMPiUECICurT5ooCNuFG57LYE/viewform?edit_requested=true