International Health Regulations (IHR) Amendments
On September 19, 2025, amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) were enacted, binding 196 States Parties, including WHO Member States and two non-members. These regulations ensure that while each country can legislate for its population, they must also act in ways that safeguard the international community from disease threats.
Historical Background
- The roots of IHR trace back to the 19th-century cholera outbreaks, leading to the first International Sanitary Conference in Paris in 1851.
- These early conferences laid the groundwork for quarantine and information exchange rules.
- In 1948, the WHO consolidated various conventions into the International Sanitary Regulations of 1951, initially covering six diseases.
- By 1969, the regulations, renamed International Health Regulations, were narrowed to cholera, plague, and yellow fever.
Challenges and Revisions
The outbreak of SARS in 2003 exposed the limitations of the existing framework. Consequently, the WHA adopted a revised IHR in 2005, which:
- Applies to any “public health emergency of international concern.”
- Mandates notification to WHO within 24 hours.
- Requires development of “core capacities” for disease detection and response.
- Obliges each State Party to establish a 24/7 communication system.
Amendment Process
- Amendments can be proposed by any State Party or the WHO Director-General.
- Adoption requires a majority decision of the World Health Assembly.
- The 2024 amendments were adopted through consensus at the 77th WHA.
Key Amendments in 2024
- Addition of a new legal category: Pandemic Emergency.
- Requirement for countries to establish a National IHR Authority.
- WHO and States Parties use Joint External Evaluations (JEE) for compliance.
India's Responsibilities
- Formal designation of a National IHR Authority by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Reinforcement of disease surveillance networks and rapid response mechanisms.
- Protection of personal data during emergencies.
The IHR has evolved significantly, from 19th-century cholera quarantines to the comprehensive amendments of 2024, reflecting its adaptability to global public health challenges.