CD59/INF/5 - Implementation of the International Health Regulations

Introduction 

1. This document reports on the application and implementation status of the International Health Regulations (IHR or “the Regulations”) and compliance therewith (1). The report covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021,1 updating the information submitted to the 168th Session of the Executive Committee in June 2021 (2) and complementing the information provided in Document A74/17, presented to the 74th World Health Assembly in May 2021 (3).

2. Pursuant to IHR provisions, the current report focuses on acute public health events, States Parties’ core capacities, administrative requirements, and governance. Finally, it highlights issues requiring concerted action by States Parties in the Region of the Americas and by the Pan American Sanitary Bureau (PASB) to enhance future application and implementation of the Regulations and compliance with them.

3. This document needs to be considered in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.2 Hence, it is closely related to the Update on COVID-19 in the Region of the Americas (Document CD59/INF/1) (4). Similarly, it is closely related to Document CD59/INF/4 (5), which presents issues related to the strengthening of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) preparedness for and response to health emergencies, previously addressed in Document CE168/INF/3 (2).