Taiwan did not have a cross-agency integration mechanism when the SARS outbreak occurred in 2003. After the epidemic, the central government strengthened its collaboration with the private sector through regulatory review, organizational adjustment, and practical operations, in order to maximize the effectiveness of epidemic prevention.

I. Regulatory review － Amending the Communicable Disease Control Act

(I) The act specifies that when it is necessary to coordinate all resources and manpower as a whole, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) may seek approval from the Executive Yuan to establish the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
(II) The commander of the CECC commands, supervises, and coordinates government agencies at each level, state-owned enterprises, and private organizations in performing epidemic prevention work.

II. Facility Implementation － The National Health Command Center was established on January 18, 2005, and has a complete epidemic prevention system.

The National Health Command Center  

III. Strategy Formation － Taiwan reviewed weaknesses in the epidemic prevention system through the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Post-SARS Epidemic Prevention System Reconstruction Project, and Plan to Construct a Bio-protection and SARS and Other Emerging Infectious Epidemic Prevention Network, and progressively revised epidemic prevention strategies.

When an infectious disease is prevalent, relevant departments of the Executive Yuan will be stationed in the Central Epidemic Command Center.

After SARS, health personnel conduct outbreak drills regularly.