International Health Regulations (2005)
The International Health Regulations (2005) constitute a global legal framework adopted by the World Health Organization to strengthen countries’ capacities to prevent public health risks, detect them early, and respond to them in a coordinated international manner. The regulations were adopted on 23 May 2005 during the World Health Assembly, published in the same year, and entered into force on 15 June 2007.
Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) were approved on 1 June 2024 during the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization. These amendments aim to enhance global preparedness for pandemics following the experience of COVID-19, improve information sharing and cooperation between countries, and introduce the concept of a “pandemic emergency” to strengthen early response to global health crises. Member States were notified of these amendments on 19 September 2024, and they are set to enter into force on 19 September 2025.
An ongoing engagement among partners on resolving outstanding technical and operational issues and evolving broadly acceptable and common solutions require regular virtual and telephone video discussions to arrive at solutions that have broad consensus among partners. The conferences and discussions will assist partners in evolving commonly acceptable solutions to outstanding issues.
