डब्ल्यूएचओ के सदस्य देशों ने महामारी से बेहतर तरीके से निपटने के लिए स्वास्थ्य नियमों को मजबूत करने के कदमों को मंजूरी दी

WHO Member Countries Approve Steps to Bolster Health Regulations to Better Brace for Pandemics

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that its member countries approved new measures to enhance global preparedness and response to pandemics like COVID-19 and mpox. These steps include amendments to the International Health Regulations, last revised in 2005, such as defining "pandemic emergency" and improving access to financing and medical products for developing countries.

This decision concluded the WHO's six-day World Health Assembly, where a broader pandemic treaty was not adopted due to disagreements between developing and wealthier nations over technology sharing and pathogen handling. Nonetheless, countries committed to finalize negotiations on the pandemic accord by the end of the year, according to WHO.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the consensus on the IHR amendments, highlighting it as a testament to global unity in finding common solutions despite widespread divisions. Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University, described the amendments as a significant advancement for health security, suggesting they will streamline the pandemic agreement negotiations.

The revised regulations define a pandemic emergency as a communicable disease with wide geographical spread or high risk thereof, overwhelming national health systems' response capabilities. It also encompasses outbreaks causing or potentially causing significant economic or social disruption, necessitating prompt international action.

WHO legal officer Steven Solomon noted that the revised health regulations would not take effect immediately but will be enforced a year after Director-General Tedros officially informs member countries of the decision.

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