Paraguay's health minister visited Taiwan this week to strengthen medical cooperation and training, in a trip that also doubles as a show of diplomatic support for Taiwan.

• Paraguay's Health Minister Isaías Fretes led a delegation to Taiwan from November 1-5, met by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, to expand "smart healthcare" cooperation between the two countries.
• Taiwan has been helping modernize Paraguay's public health system, including a hospital information management project now covering nearly 90% of Paraguay's medical facilities, and a hospital construction project in Asunción.
• Fretes wants to use Taiwan's experience in healthcare management, infectious disease control, and universal health coverage to train more Paraguayan medical staff.
• This is also diplomatically significant for Taiwan: Paraguay is one of Taiwan's few remaining formal allies, and Taiwan is asking Paraguay to keep backing it at next year's World Health Assembly, where Taiwan is excluded due to pressure from China.
• The delegation is visiting several major Taiwan hospitals and discussing medical AI and telemedicine with local health officials and industry representatives.

Outlook: Expect continued expansion of Taiwan-Paraguay health cooperation, with Taiwan using the relationship to shore up diplomatic support ahead of next year's WHA.