global Health Security Strengthened as IHR Amendments Take Effect
A significant step forward in international health cooperation was taken today with the implementation of amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). These revisions, born from the critical lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, aim to bolster global preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
The IHR, a set of legally binding rules for 196 nations – encompassing all 194 WHO Member States – recognize the borderless nature of health threats and the necessity of unified action. Rooted in 19th-century quarantine measures responding to increased global travel, the regulations evolved from the International Sanitary Regulations of 1951 to the current IHR, continually adapting to the changing global health landscape.
Adopted unanimously by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, the 2024 amendments introduce a new “pandemic emergency” alert level, triggering enhanced international collaboration when a health crisis escalates beyond a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and threatens widespread societal disruption. Key changes also include the mandated establishment of National IHR Authorities within governments to streamline implementation, and provisions to improve equitable access to medical countermeasures and financing.
“These amendments represent a landmark commitment to safeguarding future generations against the devastating consequences of epidemics and pandemics,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. ”The principle of ‘no one is safe until everyone is safe’ is central to these revisions, reinforcing our collective duty and solidarity.”
Alongside the updated IHR, the WHO Pandemic Agreement was also adopted, with ongoing negotiations focused on a related annex concerning pathogen access and benefit-sharing. It’s critically important to note that while the WHO serves as the coordinating body, the IHR respects national sovereignty, and implementation relies on individual countries enacting relevant legislation.
While the vast majority of nations have embraced the 2024 amendments, eleven of the 196 IHR States Parties have opted to maintain the previous version, with the option to reconsider their position at any time. The WHO stands ready to support all States Parties in integrating these changes into their national systems and building a more secure and healthy future for all.
The full, amended text of the IHR is available on the WHO website, with translations into other official languages forthcoming.
