Fifth Working Group Meeting: Advancements In International Health Regulations (2005)

The Fifth meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) is scheduled for October 2-6, 2023. Global health leaders are coming together to strengthen international health regulations and ensure we are better prepared for future health crises.

The World Health Assembly, in 2022, initiated a series of discussions aimed at revising the existing International Health Regulations (2005). Here is a simple breakdown of the fifth meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 (WGIHR)

• The Fifth meeting of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) is set for October 2-6, 2023.
• The opening plenary session will be accessible and available to Member States and stakeholders through webcast.
• The WGIHR will assess various articles’ progress and consider suggested amendments.
• The closing plenary session will address the roadmap for inter-sessional activities and preparations for the upcoming meeting.

Amendments And Improvements

The International Health Regulations (2005) serve as a crucial framework for global health cooperation. The process is led by the Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) through a specialized group known as the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR).

This group focuses on learning from the experiences and lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the international health community responded to it.

Fifth Meeting Insights

The fifth meeting of this working group is to be held from 2-6 October 2023. The opening session planned for 9:30 CEST on Monday, 2 October 2023, will be available to the public via webcast.

This meeting is a platform for WHO Member States, Associate Members, regional economic integration organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss and review the progress made on various articles and proposals considered in previous meetings.

Discussion Points And Considerations

During this session, the group will discuss several articles related to accountable authorities, surveillance, verification, recommendations, and the Emergency Committee. Member States will also have the opportunity to provide updates on specific articles.

The group will also assess proposed amendments noted in the report of the fourth meeting of the WGIHR. The discussions invite various viewpoints from relevant stakeholders to enhance the review process.

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Drafting Session And Participation

Following the discussions, a drafting session will be held to consider the proposed amendments. However, attendance will be limited to WHO Member States, Associate Members, regional economic integration organizations, the Holy See, Liechtenstein, and the Observer Delegation of Palestine.

This session is vital for adjusting the proposed amendments and ensuring they represent the collective viewpoints of the international community.

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Closing Plenary And Future Steps

The closing plenary of this fifth meeting is expected to be held on the afternoon of Friday, 6 October 2023, and will also be open and publicly webcast. This session will focus on discussing proposals on the way forward regarding inter-sessional activities and preparations for the sixth meeting of the (WGIHR) scheduled for 7-8 December.

In summary, these meetings symbolize a united effort by global health leaders to refine international health regulations. They are essential to build a robust global health security architecture. By learning from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community strives to provide a more coherent, equitable, and effective response to future health emergencies.

The discussions and amendments proposed in these meetings are steps towards a world better prepared to face and overcome health crises. International health regulations are crucial to safeguarding the well-being of communities globally.

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