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WHA reaches agreement on polio, International Health Regulations and strengthening surgical care
News release
22 MAY 2015 ? GENEVA - The World Health Assembly continued progress Friday, reaching agreements on polio eradication; further implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); surgical care and medical products.
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International Health Regulations
Delegates endorsed the International Health Regulations Review Committee recommendation to extend the deadline to 2016 to all countries that need more time to implement the Regulations. The recommendation also emphasizes a dynamic, ongoing process of evaluation and improvement, and the value of independent assessment.
The recent Ebola outbreak has highlighted the importance of all countries having strong capacities to rapidly detect, respond to and prevent global public health threats such as disease outbreaks. The International Health Regulations (2005), oblige all Member States to have these capacities in place. Only one-third of all countries (64), however, reported that they had met the minimum requirements in 2014.
Speakers at today?s meeting recognized the important role WHO plays in providing expertise and guidance to help countries enhance surveillance systems and laboratory services, build early warning and alert systems, and train health workers so that they can deal with major public health threats. They expressed strong support for pairing well-resourced countries with other countries to help them to meet the IHR requirements.
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ANNEX 1
A. CORE CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE
1. States Parties shall utilize existing national structures and resources to meet their core capacity requirements under these Regulations, including with regard to: (a) their surveillance, reporting, notification, verification, response and collaboration activities; and (b) their activities concerning designated airports, ports and ground crossings.
2. Each State Party shall assess, within two years following the entry into force of these Regulations for that State Party, the ability of existing national structures and resources to meet the minimum requirements described in this Annex. As a result of such assessment, States Parties shall develop and implement plans of action to ensure that these core capacities are present and functioning throughout their territories as set out in paragraph 1 of Article 5 and paragraph 1 of Article 13.
3. States Parties and WHO shall support assessments, planning and implementation processes under this Annex.
4. At the local community level and/or primary public health response level The capacities: (a) to detect events involving disease or death above expected levels for the particular time and place in all areas within the territory of the State Party; and (b) to report all available essential information immediately to the appropriate level of healthcare response. At the community level, reporting shall be to local community health-care institutions or the appropriate health personnel. At the primary public health response level, reporting shall be to the intermediate or national response level, depending on organizational structures. For the purposes of this Annex, essential information includes the following: clinical descriptions, laboratory results, sources and type of risk, numbers of human cases and deaths, conditions affecting the spread of the disease and the health measures employed; and (c) to implement preliminary control measures immediately.
5. At the intermediate public health response levels The capacities: (a) to confirm the status of reported events and to support or implement additional control measures; and (b) to assess reported events immediately and, if found urgent, to report all essential information to the national level. For the purposes of this Annex, the criteria for urgent events include serious public health impact and/or unusual or unexpected nature with high potential for spread. 40
6. At the national level Assessment and notification. The capacities: (a) to assess all reports of urgent events within 48 hours; and (b) to notify WHO immediately through the National IHR Focal Point when the assessment indicates the event is notifiable pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 6 and Annex 2 and to inform WHO as required pursuant to Article 7 and paragraph 2 of Article 9. Public health response. The capacities: (a) to determine rapidly the control measures required to prevent domestic and international spread; (b) to provide support through specialized staff, laboratory analysis of samples (domestically or through collaborating centres) and logistical assistance (e.g. equipment, supplies and transport); (c) to provide on-site assistance as required to supplement local investigations; (d) to provide a direct operational link with senior health and other officials to approve rapidly and implement containment and control measures; (e) to provide direct liaison with other relevant government ministries; (f) to provide, by the most efficient means of communication available, links with hospitals, clinics, airports, ports, ground crossings, laboratories and other key operational areas for the dissemination of information and recommendations received from WHO regarding events in the State Party?s own territory and in the territories of other States Parties; (g) to establish, operate and maintain a national public health emergency response plan, including the creation of multidisciplinary/multisectoral teams to respond to events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern; and (h) to provide the foregoing on a 24-hour basis.
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News release
22 MAY 2015 ? GENEVA - The World Health Assembly continued progress Friday, reaching agreements on polio eradication; further implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005); surgical care and medical products.
snip
International Health Regulations
Delegates endorsed the International Health Regulations Review Committee recommendation to extend the deadline to 2016 to all countries that need more time to implement the Regulations. The recommendation also emphasizes a dynamic, ongoing process of evaluation and improvement, and the value of independent assessment.
The recent Ebola outbreak has highlighted the importance of all countries having strong capacities to rapidly detect, respond to and prevent global public health threats such as disease outbreaks. The International Health Regulations (2005), oblige all Member States to have these capacities in place. Only one-third of all countries (64), however, reported that they had met the minimum requirements in 2014.
Speakers at today?s meeting recognized the important role WHO plays in providing expertise and guidance to help countries enhance surveillance systems and laboratory services, build early warning and alert systems, and train health workers so that they can deal with major public health threats. They expressed strong support for pairing well-resourced countries with other countries to help them to meet the IHR requirements.
more...
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ANNEX 1
A. CORE CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SURVEILLANCE AND RESPONSE
1. States Parties shall utilize existing national structures and resources to meet their core capacity requirements under these Regulations, including with regard to: (a) their surveillance, reporting, notification, verification, response and collaboration activities; and (b) their activities concerning designated airports, ports and ground crossings.
2. Each State Party shall assess, within two years following the entry into force of these Regulations for that State Party, the ability of existing national structures and resources to meet the minimum requirements described in this Annex. As a result of such assessment, States Parties shall develop and implement plans of action to ensure that these core capacities are present and functioning throughout their territories as set out in paragraph 1 of Article 5 and paragraph 1 of Article 13.
3. States Parties and WHO shall support assessments, planning and implementation processes under this Annex.
4. At the local community level and/or primary public health response level The capacities: (a) to detect events involving disease or death above expected levels for the particular time and place in all areas within the territory of the State Party; and (b) to report all available essential information immediately to the appropriate level of healthcare response. At the community level, reporting shall be to local community health-care institutions or the appropriate health personnel. At the primary public health response level, reporting shall be to the intermediate or national response level, depending on organizational structures. For the purposes of this Annex, essential information includes the following: clinical descriptions, laboratory results, sources and type of risk, numbers of human cases and deaths, conditions affecting the spread of the disease and the health measures employed; and (c) to implement preliminary control measures immediately.
5. At the intermediate public health response levels The capacities: (a) to confirm the status of reported events and to support or implement additional control measures; and (b) to assess reported events immediately and, if found urgent, to report all essential information to the national level. For the purposes of this Annex, the criteria for urgent events include serious public health impact and/or unusual or unexpected nature with high potential for spread. 40
6. At the national level Assessment and notification. The capacities: (a) to assess all reports of urgent events within 48 hours; and (b) to notify WHO immediately through the National IHR Focal Point when the assessment indicates the event is notifiable pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 6 and Annex 2 and to inform WHO as required pursuant to Article 7 and paragraph 2 of Article 9. Public health response. The capacities: (a) to determine rapidly the control measures required to prevent domestic and international spread; (b) to provide support through specialized staff, laboratory analysis of samples (domestically or through collaborating centres) and logistical assistance (e.g. equipment, supplies and transport); (c) to provide on-site assistance as required to supplement local investigations; (d) to provide a direct operational link with senior health and other officials to approve rapidly and implement containment and control measures; (e) to provide direct liaison with other relevant government ministries; (f) to provide, by the most efficient means of communication available, links with hospitals, clinics, airports, ports, ground crossings, laboratories and other key operational areas for the dissemination of information and recommendations received from WHO regarding events in the State Party?s own territory and in the territories of other States Parties; (g) to establish, operate and maintain a national public health emergency response plan, including the creation of multidisciplinary/multisectoral teams to respond to events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern; and (h) to provide the foregoing on a 24-hour basis.
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