National Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be Established
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, February 12, 2026 /MONTSAME/. At its regular session on February 11, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The NCDC will be a strategic institution aimed not treating diseases after outbreaks occur, but at identifying risks early, issuing timely warnings, scientifically assessing potential threats, and coordinating intersectoral response at the national level. It is not a proposal to build a new hospital, but rather to establish a strategic institution that safeguards national health security and supports decision-making with evidence-based analysis.
Many countries around the world have made such systems a cornerstone of their public health sectors. Institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and Singapore’s CDC operate around the clock, conducting continuous surveillance, research, and risk assessment at the level of national security.
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic have eliminated any doubt about whether another pandemic will occur, the only remaining question is when. In Mongolia, public health functions have so far been divided among several institutions, including the National Center for Public Health, the National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, and the National Center for Communicable Diseases. It has created challenges in coordination and unified management. The new center will consolidate the public health functions of these institutions under a single leadership structure and implement comprehensive organizational reform.
The decision does not involve constructing new buildings or placing additional burdens on the state budget. Rather, it will be an institutional reform aimed at optimizing existing structures and resources to enhance efficiency and accountability.
As a result, surveillance, laboratory services, epidemiology, and integrated information systems will be better coordinated, strengthening the country's capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to public health emergencies. it will also ensure policy coherence and lay the foundation for developing a unified laboratory system aligned with international standards.
According to the Cabinet’s decision, the establishment of the NCDC will be implemented in phases over the next two to three months, with preparations underway to commence operations in May this year.
