The Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR) urged the government to take better care of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people’s health rights on World Health Day yesterday.
On April 7th, World Health Day is observed, the founding day of the WHO, to increase awareness about global health problems and the importance of well-being.
The theme of this year’s World Health Day is “My Health, My Right,” according to a speech from TAPR, and it emphasizes the “right to well-being” as a fundamental human right, and that everyone in the world should have access to high-quality health care.
Although Taiwan’s healthcare system is somewhat advanced, target group interviews conducted by the empire of nearly 40 trans people over the past two years revealed that the health system is not very accommodating for TGD patients and that their healthcare system is still severely underdeveloped.
Many TGD people need medical services and care, including mental health support, hormone therapy, top surgery, and gender affirmation surgery, often needing to visit many outpatient departments, the TAPCPR said.
Many of the treatments, including hormone therapy and gender affirmation surgery, are not covered by National Health Insurance, so TGD people who can’t afford the high price of the medication are forced to use contraceptive pills as a substitute, it said.
The TAPCPR, which refers to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8 (SOC8), said it could serve as a guideline for healthcare professionals to provide safe and effective care and aid them in optimizing TGD people’s overall well-being and self-fulfillment.
The alliance said that the SOC8 no longer limits itself to the medical “diagnosis” of gender dysphoria or transgender but pays more attention to overall care for TGD people’s gender identity and implementation.
The SOC8 also advises healthcare systems to offer gender-affirming medical care for TGD patients, according to the SOC8.
Additionally, it recommended improving access to affordable medical care and resources to stop TGD patients from having to purchase medications, hormonal injections, or silicone injections from unreliable sources.
The TAPCPR recommends that healthcare professionals use language that upholds the values of safety, dignity, and respect for TGD people in healthcare settings.
Additionally, it recommended that the TAPCPR consult with TGD representatives regarding the terminology or language they would prefer to use.
The alliance announced this year that through the Line app, a safe and trustworthy online consultation service where TGD users can ask questions about medical, legal, physical, and mental health issues that would be answered by TGD-friendly doctors, lawyers, psychologists, and other experts.
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