GENEVA: Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have continued deliberations on proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), underlining the crucial role of their work in ensuring future global security during health emergencies.
The seventh meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR (WGIHR) will continue discussions on March 8 to conclude this round.
Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme said, "This Working Group will define the next 10 years of global surveillance and of collective security when it comes to health emergencies and particularly high-impact epidemics."
During recent discussions, governments focused on refining amendments to articles and annexes that were in an advanced stage of negotiation. Substantial dialogue also took place on the public health alert – public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – pandemic continuum.
Co-Chair Dr. Ashley Bloomfield reiterated in the final public session that the WGIHR process is driven by Member States, and the final package of amendments would be agreed upon by consensus.
Issues concerning equity, collaboration, capacity building, and financing, will be addressed by Member States on March 8, when the seventh meeting of the WGIHR resumes.
The proposed amendments related to governance provisions and foundational articles of the Regulations will be discussed when the WGIHR convenes for the eighth time in April 2024 to finalize the package of amendments for consideration by the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024.
