By Lee Hsin-Yin / CNAWhen Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Feb. 3 announced that the government would start a rationing system to cope with a mask shortage caused by COVID-19 fears, government agencies had only 60 hours to prepare. By scanning the NHI card, pharmacies can quickly see a person’s mask purchasing history, ensuring that the quota of two masks per week per person is maintained. Designing a system, based on ID card numbers, to prevent congestion at stores was the easy part, Chang said. The Pharmacloud system, introduced in 2013, was key to the mask rationing system being put in place. Thanks to those upgrades, the NHIA has strong cloud computing capabilities, making it possible for NHI-contracted pharmacies nationwide to track the purchasing history of people buying masks, Chang said.

Source: Taipei Times February 29, 2020 15:56 UTC