Strengthening Preparedness for Health Emergencies: Application of the International Health Regulations (Spanish)

Interim report on the progress made by the Review Committee on the operation of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the response to COVID-19

Director General's Report

In accordance with the requests made by the Health Assembly in resolutions WHA73.1 and WHA73.8 (2020), the Director-General has the honor to transmit to the Executive Board, at its 148th session, the interim report of the progress made by the Review Committee on the operation of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the response to COVID-19 (in annex).

BACKGROUND

1. The Review Committee on the operation of the International Health Regulations (2005) during the response to COVID-19 was convened by the Director General on September 8, 2020, in response to the request made by Member States in resolution WHA73.1 (2020), and in accordance with article 50 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR or Regulations). The Committee is made up of 21 members selected and nominated by the Director General from the Roster of IHR Experts, who cover a wide range of expertise and are adequately representative from a geographical and gender perspective. The Committee is chaired by Professor Lothar H. Wieler (Germany), supported by a Vice-Chair, Professor Lucille Blumberg (South Africa), and a Rapporteur, Dr.

2. The mandate of the Committee is to review the operation of the IHR during the response to COVID-19, review the status of implementation of the relevant recommendations of the previous IHR Review Committees and, ultimately, make technical recommendations to the Director General on the operation of the Regulation and on the eventual need to introduce modifications. This report summarizes the work carried out by the Review Committee up to December 8, 2020.

PROCESS

3. The Committee holds a virtual 3-hour plenary meeting each week and is supported by the WHO IHR Secretariat. It also carries out its work through three subgroups dedicated to preparedness, alert and response, which meet almost every week for an hour. Led by Dr. Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, Dr. Mark Salter, and Professor James LeDuc, respectively, the subgroups deliberate on specific issues, conduct interviews, and report their findings at the weekly plenary meeting. In accordance with the provisions of Article 51.2 of the International Health Regulations (2005), the Committee also holds an open meeting each month attended by more than 100 representatives designated by the Member States, United Nations agencies and non-state actors in official relations with WHO. To date, statements before the Committee have been made by representatives designated by 33 Member States, either individually or as part of specific groups of Member States, as well as four representatives of United Nations agencies and non-State actors that maintain official relations with The OMS.

4. The Committee coordinates its work with that of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Program (IOAC) and with that of the Independent Pandemic Preparedness and Response Group, through their respective Secretariats and of monthly calls between its Presidents.

5. The Committee has held interviews with the Chairs of the previous Review Committees, the Chairs of the current and former Emergency Committees, the President and Vice President of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), the Chief from the Universal Periodic Review Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the IOAC, investigators specializing in travel measures, 14 National IHR Liaison Centers and Headquarters staff and from WHO regional offices and country offices. He is scheduled to conduct more interviews.

6. The WHO IHR Secretariat has provided the Committee with relevant information and support documents. Further analysis of preparedness capacities, travel measures and national legislation is expected.

PRIORITIES

7. The Committee is examining the following key issues:

• Altogether, how has the IHR performed during COVID-19, thus far? How has the Regulation contributed to the global response?

• How are the roles and responsibilities of the WHO Secretariat and States Parties interpreted and performed under the IHR?

• To what extent were Member States prepared to respond to COVID-19?

• How can current tools and approaches for assessment and monitoring of preparedness help to increase the effectiveness of country responses? How can universal collegiate exams be used to help improve the implementation of the RSI?

• How was information exchanged under the RSI during the first days of the outbreak? Does the WHO Secretariat need a stronger and clearer mandate to react in the event that States Parties do not provide information? If so, what would be the best way to formulate and implement this mandate?

• Are the criteria for determining the existence of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (ESPII) and the consequences of its declaration clear and understandable? What are the advantages and disadvantages of introducing an intermediate level of alertness? How could this intermediate level of alert be applied? What alternatives can be considered?

• How did the WHO Secretariat and the States Parties fulfill their obligations regarding additional sanitary measures in relation to international traffic?

• How are current mechanisms for collaboration and coordination for global outbreak alert and response working? What needs to be changed or improved?