Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Su Ih-jen (
Department of Health (DOH) Director-General Chen Chien-jen (
"It's a very burdensome job," Su said. "With the pressure to push through the amendments to the Center for Disease Control Organic Law (
Su became teary eyed during the press conference to announce his resignation and broke up when saying he was proud to have played a role during a national health crisis.
early departure
Having taken up the position in May with the specific task of controlling the SARS epidemic, Su said he had originally planned to leave after completing one year with the CDC.
"I thought I could at least hold my position until March 20 and leave after the presidential election," Su said.
But Su cited a possible heart condition as his reason for wanting to resign.
He also said that if the Center for Disease Control Organic Law passed in the Legislative Yuan, it would be better for his successor to have a hand in the process of reorganizing the CDC.
"The position of CDC director-general requires professional expertise and is not about politics," Su said.
Su wants Jan. 18 to be his last day at work. He will take a few days off to have his heart condition diagnosed.
Chen said he had not yet considered other candidates for Su's position and wanted to see Su's health reports before making a decision.
`number one choice'
"We are like brothers, so if he really is sick, then I won' t force him to stay on, but at this point he is still the DOH's number one choice for the position," Chen said.
Su stressed the importance of the amendments to the organic law, slated to be voted on in the legislature today.
The CDC's revisions of the law include the establishment of an Infection Prevention Medical Care Network that would designate specific hospitals in each city and county with the task of treating patients with infectious diseases.
Su also said the law would allow more doctors and doctorate-level researchers to work at the CDC, bypassing current regulations requiring that select CDC employees take civil service exams.
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