Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005)

1. Progress report on the
implementation of the
International Health Regulations
(2005)
Agenda item 3(e)
63rd Session of the WHO Regional
Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean
36 October 2016, Cairo
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2. Outline
• Progress of implementation of International
Health Regulations (2005) in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region (EM/RC62/R.3)
• WHO Draft Global Implementation Plan for the
recommendation of the Review Committee on the
role of IHR in the Ebola Outbreak and Response
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

3. Progress of implementation of
International Health Regulations (2005)
in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
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4. Ebola preparedness assessment
Findings show inconsistent results with IHR self-assessments*
Early Warning Function
*Findings from the Ebola Preparedness Assessment conducted in response to
EM/RC61/R.2 (2014)
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 4

5. Resolution EM/RC62/R.3
 Established an independent regional assessment
commission (IHR-RAC) to:
 assess the implementation of IHR (2005) in the Region
 advise the Member States on issues relating to
implementation
 Urged the Member States to:
 conduct objective assessment of implementation of IHR
(2005) in order to identify gaps in IHR core capacities
 report annually to the regional assessment commission
 Requested the Regional Director to:
 establish a regional task force to harmonize the tools for
assessment of IHR core capacities
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

6. Harmonization of the tools for
assessment
Existing tools for assessment of IHR
capacities were harmonized and unified
– The Regional Office led the global
efforts to review and harmonize the
tools through a consultative meeting
held in January 2016 (combine self-
evaluation, peer review and voluntary external
evaluations involving a combination of domestic and
independent experts)
– The joint external evaluation tool
comprises tools to assess 19 technical
areas covering three major headings:
prevent, detect and respond
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

7. Objective assessment of IHR
core capacities
Assessment of IHR capacities in the Region
– Joint external evaluations conducted in six
countries from April to September 2016
– Joint external evaluations are planned to be
conducted in nine more countries between
October 2016 and April 2017
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

8. Major gaps in IHR core capacities identified
during the Joint External Evaluations
• Insufficient policy, financing and regulatory framework to support the
functions of IHR National Focal Points
• Limited multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary coordination and
communication mechanisms to support IHR functions
• Absence of inclusive and comprehensive disease surveillance and tiered
public health laboratory system for early warning, threat detection and risk
assessment
• Lack of a multi-hazard national emergency preparedness and response
plan covering all IHR related hazards
• Poor cross-sectoral mechanisms/approach to deal with the emerging
threats of anti-microbial resistance
• Absence of needed regulations, standards and coordination mechanisms
for chemical, food and radio-nuclear emergencies
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9. Post-assessment of IHR core capacities
• Advocate for joint external evaluations
• Map gaps in IHR core capacities that are common to the
Region in order to prioritize actions
• Support development of national plans of action to address
gaps identified during the assessment
• Provide guidance on implementation of the national plans of
action by:
– mapping external support
– advocating for allocation of domestic support
• Monitor the attainment of core capacities, preparedness and
readiness measures
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

10. IHR-Regional Assessment
Commission (IHR-RAC)
The IHR-RAC was established in 2015
– Comprised of 15 members
– Terms of reference and modality of work finalized
– Two meetings were held, in December 2015 and
September 2016
– Provided its recommendations to the Member
States on issues related to implementation of IHR
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Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005)

11. Recommendations of IHR-RAC
• Enhance the function of IHR national focal points
• Strengthen the IHR multisectoral committees
• Establish an inventory of existing laboratory services for a
network of laboratories
• Forge greater collaboration and coordination response to
chemical and radiation emergencies
• Promote a “One Health” approach for detection, prevention
and response to emerging diseases
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 11

12. WHO Draft Global Implementation Plan
for the recommendation of the Review
Committee on the role of IHR in the
Ebola Outbreak and Response
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13. WHO Draft Global
Implementation Plan
• In 2015, 68th World Health Assembly: the Review Committee
on the role of IHR (2005) in Ebola Outbreak and Response
was established
• In 2016, the 69th World Health Assembly (decision WHA 69
(14)) requested the Director General to:
– develop for the consideration of the Regional Committees a
draft global implementation plan for the recommendations of
the Review Committee; and
– submit the final plan for consideration to the Executive Board at
its 140th session in January 2017.
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 13

14. Main findings of the IHR Review
Committee
The world remains ill-prepared to respond to a
global, sustained and threatening public health
emergency
• The IHR remain an important international framework
that provide the backbone to any future response to a
public health threat
• It is imperative to prioritize the implementation of IHR in
all countries and to develop and roll out an overarching
global strategic improvement plan
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 14

15. Six areas of action proposed in
the Draft Plan
• Accelerating country implementation of the IHR (2005)
• Strengthening WHO’s capacity to implement the IHR
(2005)
• Improving the monitoring and evaluation of, and
reporting on, core capacities under the IHR (2005)
• Improving event management, including risk assessment
and risk communication
• Enhancing compliance with the temporary
recommendations under the IHR (2005)
• Rapid sharing of scientific information
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 15

16. Action by the 63rd session of
Regional Committee
• Note the progress report on the implementation of IHR
(2005)
• Consider the recommendations of the IHR-RAC
• Provide comments on the Draft Global Implementation
Plan for the recommendations of the Review Committee
on the role of IHR in the Ebola Outbreak and Response
(Included in Annex 1 of the document
EM/RC63/INF.DOC.4)
Progress report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations
(2005) 16

17. Thank you
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