Mainland medical experts Tuesday urged the Taiwan authorities to
abandon their political bias and join with the mainland in the
battle against SARS.
Cao Ronggui, president of the China Association for Hospital
Management, said the health and lives of compatriots on both sides
of the Taiwan Straits ought to come before the self-interests of a
political party.
"Medical circles across the Straits should make joint efforts to
serve the people's interests and bring the outbreak under control
at an early date," he said.
Cao made the remarks yesterday on the sidelines of a
videoconference on how to fight SARS, co-organized by Cao's
association and the Taiwan Medical Alliance Association.
Nearly 50 medical experts from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan
joined the four-way conference between Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong
Kong and Taipei.
The meeting is the third of its kind since May 9 to signal
strengthened cooperation between non-government medical groups
across the Straits fighting disease.
The videoconference focused on epidemiological investigation and
the clinical treatment of SARS.
Regular cross-Straits meetings provide a platform for vital
exchanges between medical experts and frontline health-care workers
and help identify preventative and treatment measures.
Kao Ming-chien, president of the Taipei Association of Medical
Affairs Alliance, also hailed the meeting, saying it will be of
great use in helping the island take more effective steps to
control the spread of SARS.
"Through exchanges of experience and lessons with counterparts from
the mainland and Hong Kong, we hope medical workers in Taiwan can
find scientific ways to curb infections and treat SARS patients
more effectively," Kao said.
(China Daily May 28, 2003)