Praise and Criticism as Talks to Amend International Health Rules Near Conclusion

Author/s
Kerry Cullinan
HPW

The penultimate meeting of a World Health Organization (WHO) working group to amend the International Health Regulations (IHR) began in Geneva on Monday amid stakeholder praise and criticism for the latest 64-page draft.

The IHR are legally binding and sets out countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders. But they were found lacking during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Working Group on Amendments to the IHR (WGIHR) has been considering over 300 amendments over the past two years.

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