In Taiwan, with her prosperous economic development, advanced progress in public health and medical care system, the average life expectancy is over 75. For women, their life expectancy is even higher, nearly reaching 80. However, women's average long life does not necessarily mean that their health is in good condition and under good care. The fact is that women live long lives, but still have to tolerate sickness and endure physical pain. Due to lack of proper family care or public care, and the existence of societal and cultural pressures, women in Taiwan do have to suffer from many kinds of problems.

Women's Health Problems in Taiwan Today

Taiwan women's health and reproductive right are completely controlled by the patriarchal medical care system. For example, It is found that the caesarian rate in Taiwan is as high as 35% . The rising threat of AIDS is another crisis for women. The overwhelming consumption of the sex industry, and the mistakes in government's policy made all women expose to dangerous sex. With the annual increase of women infected with AIDS, and the other sex transmitted diseases, and cervical cancer, the importance of having safe sex is obvious the key issue for protecting women's health. This is made worse when the medical care system encourages women to take hormones indiscriminately during menopause. That the overmedical care system tries to control women health more rigidity has become another health problem for women in Taiwan.

Women often have to endure the terror of attacking by violence or rape place they under tremendous psychological pressure and burden. In recent year some feminist scholars mention that nearly 12-20% women still live in the domestic violence today. In addition, with the lower social-economic status and traditional roles, women have long undertaken the task of long-term care of elderly and family members of chronic diseases without other supports. These may do damage women physical and mental health a lot! Besides, the application of new technology for infertile women, such as"test-tube baby" technology or artificial conception, will affect women's health terribly.

The influence of the state health policies on women's health

The National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) is the most important state health policy in Taiwan in recent years. As a social security system to protect people's health, NHI is supposed to be fair and just, taking care of the people from all walks of lives, especially of those women who are economically weak. Since its implementation on March 1995, NHI has made some positive contribution to people's health. Women are more willing to use medical system since the expenses are more affordable.

In the mid-80's, the Genetic Health Law (GHL) which legalize the abortion on certain conditions was passed. The law was formulated to support the national population policy to reduce population than to promote women's body autonomy. Married women can have abortion done if they have economical difficulty and psychological stress. However, it has to have consent of their husbands. GHL appeared to be like a moral judge to control women's access to intentional abortion. For example in case of rape, contraception failure, or abortion for non-marriage relationship, there could be no support or subsidy from the Health Care System.

Current activities to promote Taiwanese women's health

In March 1997, the government announced its intention to privatize the NHI after two year's implementation since 1995. The privatization and commercialization of NHI would place the profit before health. The quality of the health care would decrease. Women will be affected most due to their lower social-economic status and special health care need.

In June 1997, TAPWR with scholars and some other 200 NGOs, including women's groups, labor organizations, human right groups, elderly groups and primary care medical organizations, started to take actions against the privatization policy of the government. Later, those groups formed "the save NHI Alliance." It called press conferences, hearings, forums and conferences. As the 1998 general election was coming nearer, the Alliance will make it an issue to get endorsement from candidates. Our actions seemed to work because the central government started to feel significant pressure.

Summit of Taiwanese Women's Health

On the day of international Women's Health Action Day, 28 May 1998, TAPWR called " the Summit of Taiwanese women's health". During the summit, women's groups from all over the country discussed various current women's health problems (Caesarian operations rate hysterectomy rate and over-use of hormones). We also examined the national women's health policy, including the privatization of NHI, the damage that Artificial Reproduction Act made to women and the AIDS policy.

After the summit, the Minister of the state Department of Health, on behalf of the Premier, met the representatives of the summit. During the meeting, the representatives of women's groups strongly expressed their protest and dissatisfaction. They demanded that the government reconsiders the NHI policy and makes reasonable redistribution of the medical resources.

Promotion of Women's Health Right

In order to protect Taiwanese women's most basic health needs, in late 1996 TAPWR set up a special program to promote women's health right. Under the program, we held conferences, speeches, and classes at different places. During these occasions, we emphasized that women health right which are rights to knowledge, to have control over their own bodies, to participate in health policy making, and rights to have easy a say to quality health care and reasonable distribution of medical resources. Our actions finally prompted the Department of Public Health of the Taipei City Government to announce 1997 the "Year of women's health." That was the first time the authorities paid attention to this issue.

In September 1997, the state Department of Health considered including the provisions for surrogacy in ARA. This action invoked a lot of discussion and debate. Women's groups were divided on the issue. Some argued that "surrogacy" was the expression of women's body autonomy and freedom to choice. Some pointed out the social problems it raised¡Gcommercialization of women's bodies, the exploitation of women in financial plight, the fragmentation of motherhood, damage to women's health et al. Nevertheless, both sides are all opposed strongly to patriarchal prowisions. TAPWR joined legislators, lawyers and scholars in calling a conference and releasing a statement expressing their opposition to the proposal. They also addressed inquiries to the health officials about their stand and attitude for the problems of women's health. These opinions will influence the drafting of the "Artificial Reproduction Act" of the central Government.

¡@¡@¡@ In mid-1998, TAPWR launched a large-scale study on the issue of women's health in Taipei. The results of the study are due to be released this September, and they will become the important reference for the Department when they draft the policy of women's health. As for the future plans, TAPWR will set up "the service hotline of women's health" to help Taiwanese women build up the sense of self-control over their bodies, provide women with medical information and the channel of complaint, and change the attitude and thinking of medical workers and hospitals toward women's health. TAPWR will also continue work with other NGOs to supervise the national health policy and system. By doing so, we hope we can help to raise women's health rights and make sure that each woman in Taiwan gets good health care.

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