The National Health Command Center was established on January 18, 2005.

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. Legislative Authorization for the Establishment of the Central Epidemic Command Center

(I) The Communicable Disease Control Act was amended to add the provision 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 supervises and coordinates central and local government agencies, 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 disease prevention system.

III. Policy 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 Plan, and Plan to Construct a Bio-protection and SARS and Other Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Network, and progressively revised disease prevention strategies.

The Central Epidemic Command Center is the command center of the epidemic monitoring network.