TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Centers for Disease Control veteran Luo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) has been named as its new chief, while public health expert Chen Liang-yu (陳亮妤) will take over the National Health Insurance Administration.

Current CDC Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who will become deputy minister of health and welfare, confirmed the appointments on Thursday, per CNA.

Luo, a National Taiwan University medical graduate, joined the CDC in 2008 as part of the fourth cohort of public health doctors. He trained in the US, conducted fieldwork in Africa, and rose to deputy director before serving as acting CDC head.

As director, Luo said his priority will be preparing for the next major epidemic and strengthening Taiwan’s infection control talent. “Talent is fundamental to epidemic prevention,” he said, pledging more support for frontline staff and wider cross-disciplinary policy dialogue to rebuild public confidence.

Chen holds a medical degree from National Cheng Kung University and a public health doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. She previously led Taipei City Hospital’s Kunming Prevention and Control Center and the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Department of Mental Health.

Chen emphasized her long experience in addiction treatment, HIV and drug prevention, and mental health programs, including establishing Taiwan’s first alcohol addiction treatment center and promoting the national psychological resilience plan.