Critical amendments to International Health Regulations adopted by WHO member countries
Member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO), in a historic move, have adopted crucial amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) at the recently concluded 77th World Health Assembly. These alterations include defining a “pandemic emergency” as well as pledging improved access to medical products and financing.
The steps will help ensure comprehensive, robust systems are in place in all countries to protect everyone everywhere from the risk of future outbreaks and pandemics, the United Nations said in a news release.
In an historic development, the #WHA77 today agreed a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), and made concrete commitments to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year.
⬇️https://t.co/xp1DzubZB5 pic.twitter.com/5koqzAG3v5
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) June 1, 2024
“The historic decisions taken today demonstrate a common desire by Member States to protect their own people and the world’s, from the shared risk of public health emergencies and future pandemics,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.
The IHR amendments will improve countries’ ability to detect and respond to future outbreaks, strengthen national capacities and improve global coordination on disease surveillance, information sharing and response, Ghebreyesus emphasised. “This is built on a commitment to equity, an understanding that health threats do not recognise national borders and that preparedness is a collective endeavour,” the director-general added.
The most significant amendment was the addition of a definition of a pandemic emergency to allow for more effective international collaboration in response to events that are on the verge of becoming, or have already become, pandemics. The pandemic emergency definition represents a higher level of alarm and builds on the IHR’s existing mechanisms, such as the determination of a public health emergency of international concern.
Another significant change was the enhancement of national capacity. The changes are designed to improve individual countries’ ability to detect and respond to future outbreaks. This will entail enhancing disease surveillance, information sharing and national response plans.
Further, the WHO emphasised that health threats transcend national borders. This new framework prioritised ensuring all countries have the resources they need to prepare and respond effectively.
Furthermore, the States Parties Committee was established to facilitate the effective implementation of the amended regulations and National IHR Authorities were created to improve coordination of regulation implementation within and between countries.
The member countries agreed to continue working on the proposed Pandemic Agreement to improve international coordination, collaboration and equity in preventing, preparing for and responding to future pandemics.
The members also decided to extend the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body’s mandate, which was established in December 2021, so that the Pandemic Agreement can be finalised by the World Health Assembly in 2025, or earlier if possible, at a special session in 2024.
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