World Health Assembly agreement reached on wide-ranging, decisive package of amendments to improve the International Health Regulations, and sets date for finalizing negotiations on a proposed Pandemic Agreement – PAHO/WHO

Geneva, June 1, 2024 — In a historic development, the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of its 194 member countries, today agreed on a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), and specifically committed to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within one year at the latest. These critical actions have been taken to ensure that comprehensive and robust systems are in place in all countries to protect the health and safety of all people everywhere from the risk of future outbreaks and pandemics.

These decisions represent two important steps that countries have taken, taken together on the final day of the 77th World Health Assembly, to build on lessons learned from several global health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The package of amendments to the Regulation will strengthen global preparedness, surveillance and responses to public health emergencies, including pandemics.

«The historic decisions taken today demonstrate a common desire of Member States to protect their own people, and those of the world, from the shared risk of public health emergencies and future pandemics,» said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of The OMS. “The amendments to the International Health Regulations will strengthen the ability of countries to detect and respond to future outbreaks and pandemics by strengthening their own national capacities and coordination between sister States on disease surveillance, information sharing and response. «This is based on a commitment to equity, the understanding that health threats do not recognize national borders and that preparedness is a collective effort.»

Dr Tedros added: “The decision to conclude the Pandemic Agreement within the next year shows how strongly and urgently countries want it, because the next pandemic is a question of when, not if, it will happen. “The current strengthening of the IHR provides a powerful boost to completing the Pandemic Agreement, which, once finalized, can help prevent a repeat of the devastation to health, societies and economies caused by COVID-19.”

The new amendments to the IHR include:

  • Presentation of a definition of pandemic emergency trigger more effective international collaboration in response to events that risk becoming, or have become, a pandemic. The definition of a pandemic emergency represents a higher level of alarm that builds on existing IHR mechanisms, including the determination of a public health emergency of international concern. According to the definition, a pandemic emergency is a communicable disease that has, or is at high risk of having, wide geographic spread to and within multiple States, exceeds or is at high risk of exceeding the capacity of health systems to respond. in those States. ; causes, or is at high risk of causing, substantial social and/or economic disruption, including disruption to international traffic and trade; and requires rapid, equitable and enhanced coordinated international action, with whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches;
  • A commitment to solidarity and equity on strengthening access to medical products and financing. This includes the establishment of a Financial Coordination Mechanism to support the identification and access to financing necessary to “equitably address the needs and priorities of developing countries, including the development, strengthening and maintenance of basic capacities”, and other measures of prevention, preparation and response to pandemic emergencies. -related capabilities;
  • Establishment of the Committee of States Parties to facilitate the effective implementation of the amended Regulations. The Committee will promote and support cooperation between States Parties for the effective implementation of the IHR; and
  • Creation of National IHR Authorities improve coordination of the implementation of the Regulations within and between countries.

«The experience of epidemics and pandemics, from Ebola and Zika to COVID-19 and MPOX, showed us where we needed better public health surveillance, response and preparedness mechanisms around the world,» said Dr. Ashley. Bloomfield of New Zealand, co-chair of the Working Group on IHR Amendments (WGIDH), and the Drafting Group that guided the negotiations of the amendment package during the World Health Assembly. “The countries knew what had to be done and we did it. “I am very proud to be a part of this.”

WGIHR Co-Chair Dr. Abdullah Assiri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia added: “The amendments to the International Health Regulations strengthen mechanisms for our collective protection and preparedness against emergency risks from outbreaks and pandemics. “Today’s powerful show of global support for stricter regulations also provides a major boost to the process of negotiating a much-needed international pandemic agreement.”

They agreed on a plan to finalize negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement

Countries agreed to continue negotiating the proposed Pandemic Agreement to improve international coordination, collaboration and equity to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics.

The Member States of the WHO decided to expand the mandate of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, established in December 2021to finish its work to negotiate a Pandemic Agreement within a year, before the World Health Assembly in 2025, or sooner if possible at a special session of the Health Assembly in 2024.

«There was a clear consensus among all Member States on the need for an additional instrument to help the world better fight a full-blown pandemic,» said Precious Matsoso of South Africa, co-chair of the Agreement’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body. on Pandemic (INB) and the Drafting Group on the agenda items of the INB and the IHR at the World Health Assembly.

INB co-chair Roland Driece of the Netherlands said: “Today’s great result with the adoption of amendments to the International Health Regulations will provide the momentum we need to finalize the Pandemic Agreement. “We clearly have the will, the purpose and now the time necessary to complete this generational agreement.”

Editor’s Notes

The IHR (2005), successor to the International Health Regulations of 1951, was conceived to maximize collective efforts to manage public health events while minimizing their disruptions to travel and trade. They have 196 States Parties, comprising the 194 WHO Member States plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See.

WHO Member States launched the process to develop the world’s first pandemic agreement, to prevent a repeat of the global health, economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a special session of the World Health Assembly . in December 2021.

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