WHO approves amendments to enhance International Health Regulations

The World Health Organization said member countries on Saturday approved new steps to improve global preparedness for and response to pandemics like COVID-19 and mpox, and set a new deadline for agreeing on a broader treaty. 

Countries agreed by consensus to amend the International Health Regulations, which were last changed in 2005, such as by defining the term pandemic emergency and helping developing countries to gain better access to financing and medical products, WHO said.

The move came as the UN agency ended its six-day World Health Assembly this year, after plans to adopt a more sweeping pandemic "treaty" at the meeting was shelved largely over disagreements between developing countries and richer ones about better sharing of technology and the pathogens that trigger outbreaks.

WHO said countries have defined a pandemic emergency as a communicable disease that has a "wide geographical spread" or a high risk of one, and has exceeded or can exceed the ability of national health systems to respond.

It's also defined as an outbreak that has or could cause "substantial" economic or social disruption and requires quick international action, the agency said.

WHO legal officer Steven Solomon said the move to revise the health regulations does not take effect immediately but will come into force a year after Tedros formally notifies countries of the decision.