FDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei replaced after seven years at the helm

FDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei replaced after seven years at the helm

2024-06-28

Wu Shou-mei has been removed as chief of the Health Ministry’s Food and Drug Administration. Since taking office seven years ago, she’s weathered the COVID pandemic and continual crises relating to food safety and drug shortages. On Friday, Premier Cho Jung-tai confirmed rumors of her departure, saying that he respects the health ministry’s personnel decisions. Juang Shin-hun, head of the School of Pharmacy at China Medical University, will take over as FDA director on Monday.

After more than seven years in office, Wu Shou-mei has been Taiwan’s longest-serving FDA director-general. But news has broken that she’s on her way out.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
FDA Director-General Wu has been at the job over the past seven years and demonstrated her professionalism and conscientiousness. I think the health ministry has new ideas about personnel planning, which we respect.

Since Wu took office in February 2017, there have been many scandals under her watch. Reports say the last straw for Wu was a shortage of intravenous fluid.

Huang Jin-shun
Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations
Wu Shou-mei has been replaced. Food safety issues, rapid test issues, and problems relating to intravenous fluid supplies are the main reasons for her removal.

Looking back, Wu managed to hold onto her post even as the health minister was changed three times. She reportedly weathered the tides of change by the strength of her political connections.

Huang Jin-shun
Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations
She’s the longest-serving director-general. Her sister-in-law is a current legislator. Of course she has strong political connections. But her communication and coordination skills were not always received favorably.

Wu’s assertive manner had extended to interactions with her own party’s lawmakers. Reports say she was given the chop, after clashing with the new health minister, Chiu Tai-yuan.

Huang Jin-shun
Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations
When Minister Chiu Tai-yuan served as a legislator, he had vastly different opinions from Director-General Wu Shou-mei, so the conflict between them is quite serious.

Chiu Tai-yuan (June 27)
Health minister
These media reports are completely fabricated and baseless. Personnel adjustments are based on the needs of our operations.

The new FDA director-general, Juang Shin-hun, heads the School of Pharmacy at China Medical University. He has a pharmaceutical background and specializes in developing new drugs and gene therapy. He is expected to assume office on July 1.

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食藥署長吳秀梅被拔官? 卓榮泰證實:尊重衛福部

2024-06-28

衛福部食藥署長吳秀梅從2017年上任以來，歷經疫情和不斷爆發的食安、藥品危機，飽受外界批評，重大風波接二連三，卻還能做這麼久，外傳是因為吳秀梅的政治背景強大，現在卻傳出被拔官的消息，行政院長卓榮泰也證實，尊重衛福部人事規劃。

已經在位7年多的食藥署長吳秀梅，是衛福部任期最久的食藥署長，現在卻傳出遭到拔官。

[[行政院長卓榮泰]]
“食藥署吳前署長在過去七年，也在工作崗位上，讓我們看到她的專業跟盡職，我認為衛福部有整套的人事新的規劃理念，我們尊重”

吳秀梅自2017年2月上任至今，曾發生過多次風波，外傳壓垮吳秀梅的最後一根稻草的是輸液缺貨事件。

[[藥師公會理事長黃金舜]]
“吳秀梅會被換下來，食安的問題，快篩的問題，輸液的問題，都是整個被換下來的主因”

不過衛福部長都換了3任，食藥署長這位置，吳秀梅還是坐得牢牢的，外傳她之所以這麼有底氣，是因為有後台。

[[藥師公會理事長黃金舜]]
“任期最久的署長，她的弟媳是現任立委，當然在政治背景是很強大的，她在外界溝通能力，協調能力，外界是比較有想法”

行事風格強悍的吳秀梅連面對自家立委都不客氣，這回遭拔官，外傳是因為與衛福部長邱泰源不合。

[[藥師公會理事長黃金舜]]
“邱泰源部長擔任立委的時間，跟吳秀梅署長，有很大的意見不同，所以衝突蠻嚴重的”

[[衛福部長邱泰源(06.27)]]
“有關這個媒體的報導，完全是杜撰，子虛烏有，(人事調整)都會根據業務的一個需要，會去做研議”

而即將接任的新食藥署長莊聲宏，現任中國醫藥大學，藥學院院長，藥學背景出生、專業領域新藥開發、基因治療等，預計7月1號上任。

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The world’s largest naval drills are underway. The 29th Rim of the Pacific exercise, or RIMPAC, kicked off Wednesday and will continue till August, involving 29 nations and more than 25,000 personnel. The U.S. and its allies plan to sink a massive amphibious assault ship, which will reportedly simulate a Chinese vessel. Meanwhile, satellite images show that Chinese pilots are practicing air strikes on mock-ups of U.S. fighter jets.

The 29th Rim of the Pacific exercise is underway. This year’s capstone event is the sinking of a 40,000-ton warship using live ammunition. According to defense analysts, the ship is meant to simulate a vessel in China’s expanding amphibious assault fleet. Ahead of the sensitive drill, China has made a move of its own.

According to satellite images obtained by Business Insider, China has built mock versions of fifth-generation U.S. aircraft out in a Xinjiang desert. The images show apparent blast marks in the desert, suggesting that China is using the area for target practice.

Lin Ying-yu
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The U.S. plans to use RIMPAC to showcase its military collaborations with its allies. Given that, China is also releasing some images at this juncture. So to be honest, whether the ship is sunk or whether the mockups get destroyed – none of that’s important. What’s more important is that China is sending a message at this particular time. China wants to balance out the media coverage that RIMPAC is receiving. China is prioritizing information warfare and cognitive warfare.

China has previously built full-sized versions of U.S. military assets in its deserts. Satellite images from 2021 show that it built a full-scale version of a U.S. carrier and at least two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. It’s also built mockups of Japanese early warning aircraft and what appears to be Taiwan’s Su’ao Port. But despite China’s frequent target practice, experts say China still doesn’t have the combat capabilities to carry out its ambitions.

Lin Ying-yu
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A real U.S. carrier strike group has countermeasures like electronic warfare equipment. It might be mobile, it might have an escort fleet, and it might even have firepower alongside it, or it might have the Aegis combat system for defense. These factors are difficult to simulate out in a desert or on a shooting range. Although the CCP’s military capabilities are increasing, we also know that the U.S. and other nations, as well as Taiwan itself – we are also expanding our military capabilities.

China’s military expansion has put the democratic coalition on edge, strengthening its partnerships. As RIMPAC gets underway, the alliance against China is only set to strengthen.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Biden and Trump woo voters on TikTok

U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump don’t agree on many things, but one thing that they agree on is a ban on the Beijing-based social network TikTok. Now, with a presidential election at stake, both are joining the platform that they previously attempted to take down. Will it make a difference on Election Day? Voice of America’s Tina Trinh reports.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump joined TikTok this month.

President Joe Biden did the same in February. It seems the often-maligned social network is no longer a problem when there’s a presidential election on the line.

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The entire social media world has changed in the four years between the last presidential election and this one. This is the first one in which TikTok is the dominant force that it is now.

Both Biden and Trump were in favor of banning TikTok in the U.S., citing security concerns over its parent company’s ties to the Chinese government. But with 170 million users in the U.S., 44 percent of them aged 18 to 29, TikTok represents a critical opportunity to win over young voters. Still, even as more Americans get their news on social media, a recent study finds it’s not why they’re there.

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When we asked about what reason you turn to these sites, I think entertainment was the top reason for every single one of them, and especially for TikTok, entertainment was a huge reason and news was not a major reason that people were turning to the sites.

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In what is shaping up to be a close race, TikTok influencers might be this election season’s digital campaign managers.

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Taipei launches scooter refresher course for seniors

Taipei’s Motor Vehicles Office has launched a refresher course for mature scooter drivers. The course is geared toward drivers 65 and older, who accounted for more than 50% of all traffic deaths and injuries last year. During the first class on Friday, drivers brushed up on skills like vehicle inspection and emergency braking. They also got reacquainted with road safety regulations. The program is currently optional, but may become mandatory one day.

Seniors on scooters get more traffic tickets and have more accidents, data shows. Last year in Taipei, 1,870 older adults were injured or killed on the road while riding scooters. They accounted for more than 50% of all traffic deaths and injuries in the city.

Here at this driving school, instructors give pointers on safe riding. Working with private companies, Taipei’s Motor Vehicles Office has launched a scooter course for seniors. It teaches everything from basic emergency braking to road regulations, to instill the importance of safety among older drivers.

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NSTC commissions hand-drawn cartoons about athletes’ daily lives

In the runup to the Paris Olympics, the National Sports Training Center has an innovative new way to promote its stars. It’s publishing a series of hand-drawn cartoons about athletes’ daily lives, to show off a side of elite athletic life that may not be readily on view. Illustrator Shen En-min was allowed into the center to shadow athletes through all their work routines, including training and physio as well as publicity. His drawings will be published in the center’s own illustrated journal, beginning with a first feature on judo.

Judo athletes train intently. Sitting nearby is a man with a sketchbook in hand, his hand constantly moving.

The drawing has the athletes in the ring, others stretching at the side, physiotherapists, and dummies for practice. The next page shows the physio zone with a therapy table. Another shows head coach Liu Wen-teng coaching star athlete Yang Yung-wei, a key scene.

Yang Yung-wei
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That’s more sensible looking. That’s good.

Illustrator Shen En-min was invited by the National Sports Training Center to come in and complete this project, entitled, “The Road of Our National Athletes.” It’s a novel, handmade way to document the process, in contrast to previous documentation through video.

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I recorded the daily lives of some of the athletes. So we’re not just seeing them when they’re competing or winning awards.

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The table tennis movements are very small. The judo is two athletes with their bodies completely contorted. I can’t even see where their hands and feet are.

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A new exhibition in Taipei showcases Italy’s award-winning designs. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the Italian Trade Agency’s director Enrico Condemi to learn more about the designs and the latest exchanges between Taiwan and Italy.

Award-winning Italian sofas, lights, chairs, and more are showcased at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. This exhibition was organized by the Italian Economic Trade and Cultural Promotion Office, the Italian Industrial Design Association, and the Taiwan Design Research Institute.

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I decided to focus on how do Taiwanese designers and architects and people from the local design scene look at Italian design and what we call as Italian design icons. Thanks to this exhibition, this is my first time in Taiwan but I am sure it will not be the last one because I really loved the city. Unfortuntley, I could only visit just Taipei and a little bit the north and northeast of the country because the other day I took a car and made a little tour. I really liked very much the city and the local design scene in-between restaurants and bars and public spaces.

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There are a lot of Taiwanese students that study in Italy and a lot of Italian designers working in Taiwan. One thing I would like to stress out is that both Italy and Taiwan are very important players in manufacturing. We manufacture a lot of goods and we design a lot of goods. Both countries are qute strong in this field. Naturallly, there are exchanges for example, in the automotive or motorcycle sectors and also in laptop design.

There will also be a series of lectures held during the exhibition, which is on display at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park until July 21.

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