To arrest the occurrence, infection and spread of communicable diseases, this Act is specifically formulated.

”Competent authorities” in this Act mean the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the central level; the municipality governments at the municipality level; and the county (city) governments at the county (city) level.

”Communicable diseases” in this Act mean diseases categorized by the central competent authority according to degrees of risks and hazards such as case fatality rate , incidence rate, and transmission speed:
1.Category 1 communicable diseases: smallpox, plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), etc.
2.Category 2 communicable diseases: diphtheria, typhoid fever, dengue fever, etc.
3.Category 3 communicable diseases: pertussis, tetanus, Japanese encephalitis, etc.
4.Category 4 communicable diseases: known communicable diseases or syndromes other than those mentioned in the preceding three Subparagraphs that are considered by the central competent authority to require monitoring of their occurrence or implementation of preventive and control measures
5.Category 5 communicable diseases: emerging communicable diseases or syndromes other than those mentioned in the preceding four Subparagraphs that are considered by the central competent authority to cause a substantial impact on the health of the population through their transmission, and to require formulation of preventive and control measures or preparedness plans in accordance with this Act.
The central competent authority shall announce names of communicable diseases mentioned in the various Subparagraphs of the preceding Paragraph in the Executive Yuan Gazette; when any adjustment is required, amendment shall be made immediately.

“Epidemic conditions” in this Act mean conditions where the number of cases of a communicable disease occurring in a specific area during a specific time period exceeds the expected number or when clustered outbreaks occur.
“Ports” in this Act mean harbors, wharfs and airports.
“Medical care institutions” in this Act mean institutions applied for operation by medical personnel specified in Paragraph 1, Article 10 of the Medical Care Act in accordance with the relevant regulations of professions and occupation laws and have been approved for practice.
"Infectious biological materials" in this Act mean materials, which are expected to contain pathogens or their derivatives, have been confirmed to contain such pathogens or derivatives.
"Specimens of communicable diseases" in this Act mean body fluids, secreta, excreta and other likely contagious substances collected from patients and suspected patients of communicable diseases or contacts.

The authorities and responsibilities of the central competent authority, municipality, county (city) competent authorities (hereinafter the “local competent authorities”) in the implementation of the matters stipulated in this Act shall be as follows:
1.The central competent authority:
1)Formulate policies and plans for the prevention and control of communicable diseases including measures such as immunization, prevention of communicable diseases, epidemiological surveillance, case reporting, investigations, laboratory testing, management, quarantine, drills, mobilization by level, training, and pharmaceutical, device and protective equipment stockpile.
2)Supervise, command, guide and assess local competent authorities in the execution of matters concerning communicable disease control.
3)Establish relief funds for compensating vaccine victims and related activities.
4)Conduct quarantines of international and specifically designated ports.
5)Organize international collaborative projects and exchanges on matters concerning the control of communicable diseases.
6)Other matters deemed necessary for disease control by the central competent authority.
2.Local competent authorities:
1)Develop implementation plans and implement the plans according to the communicable disease control policies and plans formulated by the central competent authority, and locality-specific disease control practices, and report to the central competent authority for reference.
2)Implement various communicable disease control measures in the locality including public service matters such as immunization, prevention of communicable diseases, epidemiological surveillance, case reporting, investigations, laboratory testing, management, drills, mobilization by level, training, pharmaceutical, device and protective equipment stockpile, and house-isolation.
3)Conduct quarantine of ports in the locality and ports other than those mentioned in item 4 of the preceding Subparagraph.
4)Implement matters instructed or commissioned by the central competent authority.
5)Other matters that shall be implemented by local competent authorities.
In implementing matters mentioned in Subparagraph 2 of the preceding Paragraph, local competent authorities, when necessary, may request the central competent authority for support.
In implementing matters concerning quarantine of ports, competent authorities at various levels may commission other organizations (institutions) or groups to perform such implementation.

Matters that all enterprise competent authorities at central level shall coordinate and assist in the control of communicable diseases shall be as follows:
1.Competent authority of the interior: matters concerning the control of entry and exit, assistance in supervising local governments in the implementation of public services such as in-house isolation.
2.Competent authority of foreign affairs: matters concerning liaison with foreign governments and international organizations, issuance of visas to foreign passport holders.
3.Competent authority of finance: matters concerning lease of state properties for use.
4.Competent authority of education: matters concerning promotion and education of disease control for students and school personnel, and surveillance and control of communicable diseases among them.
5.Competent authority of justice: matters concerning surveillance and control of communicable diseases among inmates in correctional centers.
6.Competent authority of economic affairs: matters concerning supply of protective equipments, and control of industry-specific ports.
7.Competent authority of transportation: matters concerning control of airports and commercial seaports, service requisition of transport facilities.
8.Competent authority of mainland affairs: matters concerning the coordination of policies governing contacts between people of the Taiwan Area and people of the mainland China area, or Hong Kong and Macau.
9.Competent authority of environmental protection: matters concerning the sanitation and disinfection of public environment, and disposal of wastes.
10.Competent authority of agriculture: matters concerning the control of communicable diseases common to humans and animals, and control of fishing harbors.
11.Competent authority of labor: matters concerning occupational safety and health, and protection of workers’ rights.
12.Competent authority of press, radio and television: matters concerning the management and release of news, dissemination of government orders, and designating radio and television media for broadcast.
13.Competent authority of coast guard: matters concerning the seizure of smuggling of vectors of communicable diseases at sea areas, sea coasts, river mouths and non-commercial ports, and illegal entry and exit across the national borders.
14.Other relevant organizations: implementing relevant matters necessary to the control of communicable diseases.

Competent authorities shall conduct various investigations and implement effective preventive measures to control the occurrence of communicable diseases; when there are outbreaks or epidemics of communicable diseases, control them promptly to prevent further transmission.

Recognition, announcement and removal of epidemic conditions of communicable diseases and the areas thereof shall be made by the central competent authority. For category 2 and category 3 communicable diseases, the aforementioned activities shall be made by the local competent authorities, and report to the central competent authority for reference at the same time.
The central competent authority shall timely announce international epidemic conditions or relevant warnings.

When announcements regarding communicable disease outbreaks or information related to disease control measures released through mass media during the existence of the Central Epidemic Command Center are erroneous, not in accord with the facts and may result in undesirable outcomes on or have certain influences over the overall disease control efforts, corrections must be made immediately upon notification for correction by the competent authorities.

Government organizations, medical institutions, medical personnel and others who learn about, by way of their professional practice, information related to patients or suspected patients with communicable diseases such as names, medical records and medical history shall not disclose such information.

The dignity and legal rights of patients with communicable diseases, medical personnel in care of such patients, patients under isolation care, home-based quarantine, group quarantine and their families shall be respected and protected without any discrimination.
Without consent of the individuals mentioned in the preceding Paragraph, no recording, videotaping or photographing may be made.

Government organizations (institutions), civic groups, enterprises or individuals shall not deny patients with communicable diseases their rights to education, employment, nursing care, housing or provide any other unfair treatment. However, this regulation shall not apply to individuals who are required to be restricted by competent authorities for needs of controlling communicable disease.

Individuals infected with pathogenic agents of communicable diseases and suspected patients with communicable diseases are regarded as patients with communicable diseases, and the regulations of this Act shall apply.