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Decades after the global thalidomide tragedy, a small group of survivors in Taiwan is calling for government recognition and support, highlighting a chapter of medical history that has been largely forgotten by the public and the medical community. Thalidomide, a drug marketed in the late 1950s as a sedative and treatment for morning sickness, caused severe birth defects in an estimated 10,000 infants worldwide. While the disaster prompted global reforms in drug safety regulations, many survivors in Taiwan have lived in relative obscurity without long-term state assistance.
Wang Ting-chieh, a 66-year-old retired professor who was born with phocomelia—a condition characterized by shortened limbs often associated with thalidomide exposure—has recently launched efforts to locate other survivors. Through social media and outreach, Wang has connected with two other survivors, Lin Tseng-chu and Shen Tsung-te. These individuals report ongoing physical challenges, including chronic joint pain and secondary health issues resulting from their disabilities, which they say have been exacerbated by aging.
Historical records indicate that in the 1970s, following advocacy by legislator Wu Chi-fu, 38 individuals in Taiwan were identified as thalidomide victims. These survivors received one-time compensation payments from the Japanese manufacturer, Dainippon Pharmaceutical, after a 1976 agreement. However, survivors and experts note that the compensation was significantly lower than that provided in other countries, and the Taiwanese government at the time did not provide additional support or formal apologies.
Experts, including former health officials, suggest that the lack of a comprehensive drug recall system in Taiwan during the 1960s contributed to the continued availability of the drug even after international warnings were issued. While the drug is currently approved in Taiwan under strict regulations for specific conditions like multiple myeloma, the historical impact on the original victims remains unaddressed by the state.
In recent years, several nations have taken steps to acknowledge the tragedy. Governments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Spain have issued formal apologies and implemented support programs for survivors, including medical care and financial assistance. Advocates in Taiwan argue that the government should similarly acknowledge its historical responsibility, provide specialized medical support for the aging survivors, and establish a system to monitor and assist those who remain.
Hung Hsin-ping, secretary-general of the Disabled People’s Alliance, stated that while the medical damage is irreversible, a formal apology and state recognition would serve as an important acknowledgment of historical justice. Supporters emphasize that the survivors are not only victims of a regulatory failure but also individuals whose experiences helped shape the modern, rigorous drug safety standards used today.
Article and image source: twreporter.org
