At World Health Assembly, countries agree on efforts to boost pandemic preparedness
Countries
on Saturday agreed to a set of key actions to better guide and coordinate
international efforts in preventing, detecting, and responding to public health
risks, while also committing to finalize negotiations on a global pandemic
agreement within a year at the latest.
These
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, WHO said in a news release.
“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.
He
highlighted that the amendments to the IHR will bolster countries’ ability to
detect and respond to future outbreaks, strengthen national capacities and
improve coordination between nations on disease surveillance, information
sharing and response.
“This
is built on a commitment to equity, an understanding that health
threats do not recognize national borders and that
preparedness is a collective endeavour,” Tedros added.
Finalizing the pandemic agreement
Countries
also agreed to continue negotiating the proposed pandemic
agreement to improve international coordination, collaboration and
equity to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics.
WHO’s
member States decided to extend the mandate of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB),
established in December 2021, to finish its work negotiating a pandemic
agreement within a year, by the World Health Assembly in 2025,
or earlier if possible.
Speaking
at the closing of the World Health Assembly, Tedros applauded the delegates for
their hard work.
“You
have agreed on a path forward for the Pandemic Agreement, and I
remain confident that you will bring it to conclusion,” he
said.
The Assembly was held
in Geneva from 27 May to 1 June under the overarching theme All
for Health, Health for All.
IHR
amendments
The
new amendments to the IHR include the introduction of a definition
of a pandemic emergency to trigger more effective
international collaboration for events at risk of becoming pandemics. This
definition raises the alarm level by building on existing IHR mechanisms, such
as the determination of a public health emergency of international concern.
A
pandemic emergency is identified as a communicable disease that risks
widespread geographical spread, overwhelms health systems, causes substantial
social or economic disruption, and necessitates rapid, equitable, and
coordinated international action through comprehensive government and societal
approaches.
Additionally,
the amendments emphasize solidarity and equity in accessing
medical products and financing by establishing a
Coordinating Financial Mechanism. This mechanism aims to support developing
countries in identifying and obtaining the necessary financing to address their
needs and priorities in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
The
amendments also establish a States Parties Committee to
promote and support cooperation for effective IHR implementation and create National
IHR Authorities to improve coordination of the Regulations
within and among countries.
The International
Health Regulations (IHR) is a legally binding international instrument
that define countries’ responsibilities in managing public health events and
emergencies with potential cross-border implications.
Among
other points, they establish crucial reporting obligations and criteria for
identifying “public health emergencies of international concern”, and address
international travel and transport requirements, ensuring health documentation
compliance.
The
Regulations were last updated almost 20 years ago, in 2005.