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The 77th annual World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting recently concluded with an agreement on a crucial set of amendments to the IHR, 2005.
- Also, decided to extend the mandate of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (established in 2021) to finish its work to negotiate a Pandemic Agreement within a year.
About IHR
- Successor of the International Sanitary Regulations (1951).
- Aim: An overarching legally binding framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
- Members: Comprises all 194 WHO Member States plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See.
- Need of Amendments: Experience of epidemics and pandemics, from Ebola to COVID-19, highlighted the need of better public health surveillance, response and preparedness mechanisms around the world
Key Amendments
- Defining the Pandemic emergency as a communicable disease that has a "wide geographical spread" or a high risk of one, and has exceeded or can exceed the ability of national health systems to respond.
- Establishing a Coordinating Financial Mechanism to address the needs and priorities of developing countries.
- Establish a States Parties Committee for effective IHR implementation.
- Create National IHR Authorities to improve coordination among countries.
About World Health Assembly (WHA)
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