Functioning of the International Health Regulations during COVID-19

An Article by Public Health Leadership Coalition’s Member – Dr. Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele

International Health Regulations (IHR), which came into force in 2007, aims to enable the prevention, detection, and containment of health risks and threats, the strengthening of national capacities for that purpose, and the coordination of a global alert and response system.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IHR have been criticized. However, the Review Committee on the Functioning of the IHR (2005) during the COVID-19 Response, which consists of 20 experts with diverse health expertise from around the world, found different results and provided 40 recommendations in 10 areas to strengthen implementation of the IHR.