Taiwan has made a major breakthrough in its campaign for the right to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO).

The head of Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control, Steve Kuo, said Thursday that the WHO has agreed to cover Taiwan in the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

The IHR aims to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of diseases. Taiwan had been trying to join the IHR network since it was implemented in 2006, but had received no response. Taiwan was unable to contact the WHO directly, due to the organization's one China policy. That meant that all contact with the WHO had to go through China, which opposes Taiwan's participation in the world health body.

Kuo said that with IHR coverage, Taiwan will no longer be left to its own devices when major diseases such as SARS and bird flu strike. He said the WHO will be able to send in experts to help, and Taiwanese health professionals can also join in WHO meetings.

Although the latest move is a major breakthrough, Kuo said that Taiwan will still push to become an observer at the World Health Assembly, which is the governing body of the WHO.