scholarly journals Implementing the International Health Regulations (2005) in Europe

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Rodier ◽  
M Hardiman ◽  
B Plotkin ◽  
B Ganter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
The European Union ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Member States ◽  
Federal States ◽  
Health Regulations

The adoption of the International Health Regulations (2005) (also referred to as IHR(2005) or the revised Regulations) provides a remarkable new legal tool for the protection of international public health. Upon entry into force on 15 June 2007, Article 2 (‘Purpose and scope‘) provides that the overall focus of the efforts of States Parties (and World Health Organization's efforts) under the revised Regulations will be to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with the public health risks and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic. Health measures under the revised Regulations will be implemented with respect for travellers’ human rights, with several specific new requirements in this area. To comply with the IHR (2005), States Parties (WHO member states that will be bound by the IHR(2005)) will have to have core public health capacities in disease surveillance and response, as well as additional capacities at designated international ports, airports and land crossings. This unique collective commitment will require close collaboration between WHO and the States Parties, but also intersectoral collaboration within the States themselves, including collaboration among different administrative or governmental levels, a particular issue for federal states, and horizontally across ministries and disciplines. Collaboration among States Parties is a key aspect of the revised Regulations, whether among neighbours, or with trading partners, members of regional economic integration organisations or other regional groups, or simply members of the international community. This collaboration is particularly relevant for the Member States of the European Union.

scholarly journals Developing a multisectoral National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) in Tanzania

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e000600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janneth M Mghamba ◽  
Ambrose O Talisuna ◽  
Ludy Suryantoro ◽  
Grace Elizabeth Saguti ◽  
Martin Muita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Plan ◽  
International Health ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Member States ◽  
Health Security ◽  
National Action Plan ◽  
Health Regulations

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa precipitated a renewed momentum to ensure global health security through the expedited and full implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) in all WHO member states. The updated IHR (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework was shared with Member States in 2015 with one mandatory component, that is, States Parties annual reporting to the World Health Assembly (WHA) on compliance and three voluntary components: Joint External Evaluation (JEE), After Action Reviews and Simulation Exercises. In February 2016, Tanzania, was the first country globally to volunteer to do a JEE and the first to use the recommendations for priority actions from the JEE to develop a National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) by February 2017. The JEE demonstrated that within the majority of the 47 indicators within the 19 technical areas, Tanzania had either ‘limited capacity’ or ‘developed capacity’. None had ‘sustainable capacity’. With JEE recommendations for priority actions, recommendations from other relevant assessments and complementary objectives, Tanzania developed the NAPHS through a nationwide consultative and participatory process. The 5-year cost estimate came out to approximately US$86.6 million (22 million for prevent, 50 million for detect, 4.8 million for respond and 9.2 million for other IHR hazards and points of entry). However, with the inclusion of vaccines for zoonotic diseases in animals increases the cost sevenfold. The importance of strong country ownership and committed leadership were identified as instrumental for the development of operationally focused NAPHS that are aligned with broader national plans across multiple sectors. Key lessons learnt by Tanzania can help guide and encourage other countries to translate their JEE priority actions into a realistic costed NAPHS for funding and implementation for IHR (2005).

scholarly journals The world health organization: The (un)attainable ideal?

2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (91) ◽  
pp. 271-286
Author(s):  
Jovana Blešić
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

The World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the UN specialized agencies. Its work and functions gained even more importance in 2020 with the emergence of the corona virus. The eyes of the entire international community focused on this organization and its Director General. Nowadays, its efficiency has been subject to various forms of criticism. In this paper, the author first provides a brief overview of this organization and its significance. The central part of the paper focuses on the activities of the WHO during the Covid-19 pandemic, through the clarification of the concept of public health emergency of international concern and the use of International Health Regulations. Finally, the author discusses the possible reform of this body. The aim of this paper is to familiarize the readers with the World Health Organization and put its activities in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals A pandemic treaty, revised international health regulations, or both?

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Labonté ◽  
Mary Wiktorowicz ◽  
Corinne Packer ◽  
Arne Ruckert ◽  
Kumanan Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Health ◽  
Global South ◽  
World Health ◽  
Main Body ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Member States ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Vaccine Distribution ◽  
Health Regulations

Abstract Background A special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) will be convened in late 2021 to consider developing a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response – a so-called ‘Pandemic Treaty’. Consideration is given to this treaty as well as to reform of the International Health Regulations (IHR) as our principal governing instrument to prevent and mitigate future pandemics. Main body Reasons exist to continue to work with the IHR as our principal governing instrument to prevent and mitigate future pandemics. All WHO member states are party to it. It gives the WHO the authority to oversee the collection of surveillance data and to issue recommendations on trade and travel advisories to control the spread of infectious diseases, among other things. However, the limitations of the IHR in addressing the deep prevention of future pandemics also must be recognized. These include a lack of a regulatory framework to prevent zoonotic spillovers. More advanced multi-sectoral measures are also needed. At the same time, a pandemic treaty would have potential benefits and drawbacks as well. It would be a means of addressing the gross inequity in global vaccine distribution and other gaps in the IHR, but it would also need more involvement at the negotiation table of countries in the Global South, significant funding, and likely many years to adopt. Conclusions Reform of the IHR should be undertaken while engaging with WHO member states (and notably those from the Global South) in discussions on the possible benefits, drawbacks and scope of a new pandemic treaty. Both options are not mutually exclusive.

scholarly journals Intergovernmental working group to take forward revision of the International Health Regulations

2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Working Group ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Member States ◽  
World Health Assembly ◽  
Health Regulations

The 56th World Health Assembly, which convened 19-28 May 2003, has decided to establish and intergovernmental working group open to all member states to review and recommend a draft revision of the International Health Regulations (1, 2).

scholarly journals THE VETERINARIAN IN PANDEMY SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): BACKGROUND AND ATTRIBUTIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 026-033
Author(s):  
Kalina Maria de Medeiros Gomes Simplício ◽  
Giovanni Vargas-Hernández ◽  
Mauro Henrique Bueno de Camargo ◽  
Michelly Fernandes de Macedo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
The World ◽  
International Importance ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

In December 2019, the world watched in disbelief as a viral epidemic, originating in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, took on frightening proportions. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the disease caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to be a public health emergency of international importance, the highest level of alert of the Organization, as provided in the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2016). On March 11, 2020, the epidemic was declared a pandemic by the WHO. Despite the rapid distribution of the new virus, many countries were reluctant or slow to comply strictly with the prophylactic methods suggested by those who had already experienced the whole situation of threat to the health of their populations.

scholarly journals THE FAILURE OF ‘CORE CAPACITIES’ UNDER THE WHO INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Giulio Bartolini
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Health System ◽  
International Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Regulations

AbstractAnalyses related to the Covid-19 pandemic have mainly addressed measures adopted in response to this event without paying attention to provisions included in the 2005 International Health Regulations which require States to develop predefined core capacities to prevent, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease. The legal architecture related to these obligations has, however, various shortcomings and States have largely failed to implement the required measures. Only recently has some practice been developed by the WHO to address these deficiencies, and further action is still required to finally implement this (neglected) cornerstone of the global health system.

scholarly journals WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee for the COVID-19 outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e2020013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngmee Jee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

To discuss whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), World Health Organization (WHO) organized the 15-member International Health Regulations Emergency Committee (EC). On January 22-23 and January 30, 2020, EC convened and discussed whether the situation in China and other countries would constitute PHEIC and issued recommendations for WHO, China and the international community. Based on the recommendations of EC, WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a PHEIC. One of the purposes of the declaration of PHEIC was to alarm countries with weak public health infrastructures to prepare promptly for emerging infectious diseases (EID) and provide WHO with a framework for proactively supporting those countries. On February 3, 2020, WHO proposed the 2019 COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which includes accelerating research and development (R&D) processes as one of three major strategies. On February 11-12, 2020, WHO held the Global Research and Innovation Forum: Towards a Research Roadmap for COVID-19. The fact that a COVID-19 R&D forum was the first meeting convened after the PHEIC declaration testifies to the importance of R&D in response to EID. Korea has demonstrated a remarkable capacity in its laboratory response by conducting high-throughput COVID-19 testing and utilizing innovative drive-through samplings. These measures for early detection and screening of cases should be followed by full efforts to produce research-based evidence by thoroughly analyzing epidemiological, clinical and immunological data, which will facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. It is expected that Korea plays a global partner for COVID-19 research by actively participating in immediate and mid/long-term priorities jointly led by WHO and global partners.

scholarly journals 2009 human H1N1 influenza (swine flu)

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Stephen J Prowse ◽  
John S MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
International Health ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
World Health ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Health Regulations ◽  
Virus Isolates

The 2009 H1N1 influenza, initially known as swine flu, originated in North America in early 2009. This new strain of influenza A virus (H1N1) came to the attention of the international public health community when several foci of influenza-like illness were identified in Mexico, which had more than 850 cases of pneumonia, of whom 59 had died. Mild cases of influenza-like illness were also reported from Texas and California. Virus isolates were obtained from the cases in California and from samples of cases sent from Mexico to the Canadian National Public Health Laboratory in Winnipeg. Molecular analysis of these virus isolates showed that they were virtually identical and indicated that they represented a completely new, rapidly spreading strain of H1N1 virus, which appeared to have originated in swine. This was the first reassorted influenza virus to emerge since the 1968-1969 pandemic caused by the Hong Kong influenza virus. Under the new International Health Regulations (2005), this rapidly spreading, novel virus was quickly recognised by the World Health Organization as constituting a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the first such emergency since the new International Health Regulations were introduced in mid-2007.

scholarly journals Activities of the WHO World Health Assembly in combating the spread of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 91-95
Author(s):  
Nataliia Hendel
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
World Health Assembly ◽  
World Health Assembly Resolution ◽  
Exchange Information ◽  
Health Regulations

The article analyses the rights of the WHO World Health Assembly in adopting sanitary and quarantine requirements and other measures against the international spread of disease. The content of the WHO World Health Assembly Resolution «COVID-19 Response» and its impact on international cooperation in combating the spread of COVID-19 have been studied. The obligation of the States Parties of the 2005 International Health Regulations to notify and exchange information in case of unexpected or unusual events in the field of public health has been disclosed.

International Health Regulations and Transmissible Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-102
Author(s):  
Anika Klafki
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Law ◽  
International Health Regulations ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

The world is increasingly vulnerable to infectious diseases. Although the fundamental reform of the International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2005 was heralded as the beginning of a new era of international health law, the Ebola outbreak 2014 shattered all hopes that the world would now be adequately equipped for epidemic outbreaks of transmissible diseases. The Ebola crisis is perceived as an epic failure on the part of the World Health Organization (WHO). The many dead are a sad testimony to the world's inability to adequately respond to the threat posed by contagions. In reaction to this defeat, policymakers now focus on hands-on initiatives to foster global health instead of reformulating international health law. So far, extensive investments and innovations within the WHO, the United Nations system, and in the private sector have multiplied rapidly. The mushrooming of various health initiatives, however, increases the complexity and reduces the consistency of the current global health landscape. The leadership role of the WHO needs to be restored to provide a coherent response for the next global scale public health emergency. To this end, a fundamental reform of the presently widely neglected international regulatory framework in the field of public law, the IHR, is of vital importance. Keywords: World Health Organization, International Health Regulations, Infectious Diseases, Ebola, Influenza, Public Health, Public Health Emergency

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