On World Health Day yesterday, the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR) urged the government to better care for the health rights of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people.
World Health Day is commemorated on Apr. 7 annually, the founding day of the WHO, to raise awareness about global health issues and the importance of well-being.
TAPR said in a statement that the theme of this year’s World Health Day is “My Health, My Right,” focusing on the “right to health” as a fundamental human right, and that people around the world should all have access to quality health care.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP
While Taiwan’s healthcare system is relatively advanced, focus group interviews conducted by the alliance of nearly 40 transgender people over the past two years showed that healthcare support for TGD people is still seriously insufficient, and the medical environment is not very friendly toward them, it said.
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 are also not included in National Health Insurance coverage, including hormone therapy and gender affirmation surgery, so TGD people who cannot afford the high cost of medication are forced to purchase contraceptive pills as a replacement, it said.
Citing the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8 (SOC8), published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health in 2022, the TAPCPR said it could serve as a guidline for health care professionals to provide safe and effective care, and assist 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 recommends that healthcare systems should provide medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare for TGD people, it said.
Moreover, it said access to affordable medical treatment and resources should be improved to prevent TGD people from having to buy drugs, hormonal injections or silicone injections from unreliable sources.
The TAPCPR said it recommends healthcare professionals use language in healthcare settings that uphold the principles of safety, dignity and respect for TGD people.
It also said that the TAPCPR should discuss with TGD people about the language or terminology they would prefer to be used.
The alliance said that this year it launched a safe and professional online consultation platform through the Line app on which TGD people can ask questions about medical, legal, physical and mental care problems, which would be answered by TGD-friendly physicians, lawyers, psychologists and other experts.
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