World Health Assembly defines pandemic emergency, pledges improved access to medical products & financing

Sub: IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

Member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted crucial amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) at the recently concluded 77th World Health Assembly.
These alterations include defining a “pandemic emergency” as well as pledging improved access to medical products and financing.

Details of Amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR):

Definition of Pandemic Emergency:
- The pandemic emergency is being Defined to allow for more effective international collaboration in response to events that are on the verge of becoming, or have already become pandemics.
- The pandemic emergency definition represents a higher level of alarm and builds on the IHR’s existing mechanisms, such as the determination of a public health emergency of international concern.
Improved National Capacities:
- Enhancements aim to strengthen individual countries’ abilities to detect and respond to future outbreaks.
- Focus on better disease surveillance, information sharing, and response plans.
Global Health Threats and Equity:
- Emphasizes that health threats transcend national borders.
- Prioritizes equitable access to resources for all countries to prepare and respond effectively.

Structural Changes:

States Parties Committee:
- Established to ensure effective implementation of the amended IHR.
- Facilitates coordination among countries.
National IHR Authorities:
- Created to improve regulation implementation within and between countries.

Ongoing Initiatives

Pandemic Agreement:
- Member countries committed to working on a proposed agreement to enhance international coordination, collaboration, and equity in pandemic preparedness and response.
Intergovernmental Negotiating Body:
- The mandate was extended to finalize the Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly in 2025, with a potential special session in 2024 to expedite the process.

Current International Health Regulations (IHR):

Came into existence in 2005
Adopted after the 2002/3 SARS outbreak
Obligates countries to report public health events with potential cross-border impact and includes measures on trade and travel.
Inadequacies: Effective for regional epidemics (such as Ebola) but insufficient for global pandemics (Eg.- Covid-19).

Changes to Global Health Rules:

Recent update in the IHR:
- New Alerts System: Introduces different risk levels for outbreaks, including an “early action alert” and a “pandemic emergency” for severe threats.
  - Currently, the WHO has only one level of emergency – a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The new system envisages an intermediary stage called an “early action alert”.
- Strengthening Obligations: Enhances state obligations to report public health events from “may” to “should”.

Source: DTE