WHO Reviews International Health Rules For Facing Global Outbreaks

Illustration. World Health Organization (WHO). (ANTARA-Ardika)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing the International Health Regulation (IHR) aka International Health Regulations to realize much better instruments in the face of the possibility of an international outbreak or the upcoming pandemic.

This was conveyed by the former Director of Infectious Diseases of WHO Southeast Asia, Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, who participated in the meeting at the WHO Geneva Office, Switzerland, on February 5-9, 2024.

"As I said before, I am attending a meeting at the WHO Geneva office which reviewed the IHR issued in 2005 and took effect in 2007," he said via text message in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 7, which was confiscated by Antara.

Tjandra, who is also Professor of Pulmonology and Respirational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), said that a number of discussion points were carried out regarding aspects of the pandemic and also international relations regarding the handling of infectious diseases that could potentially spread between countries.

He said the marathon meeting from 09.30 to 17.30 local time was expected to produce a number of instruments that were much better in the face of the possibility of an international outbreak or the upcoming pandemic.

"The target results will be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May 2024," he said.

On the other hand, said Tjandra, the 2005 IHR which has so far been in effect, among others, states that the state needs to form, strengthen and maintain its ability to effectively respond to the risk of a public health emergency that is troubling the world (public health emergency of international concern/PHEIC).

"In this context, in 2012, WHO formed a Public Health Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at the WHO head office for several important activities, including conveying the best EOC standards and practices in WHO member countries, including Indonesia of course," he said.

The facility, he continued, also presents the Strategic Health Operation Center (SHOC) which monitors the situation of public health events for 24 hours worldwide, which coordinates with the EOC or SHOC in various countries around the world.

"Of course the goal is to detect, handle and facilitate international cooperation in the event of a public health emergency," he said.

The former Director General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health also encouraged Indonesia to form a kind of EOC at the national level, as well as regions, both provinces and districts/cities.

Three important things for Indonesia from the presence of the EOC, said Tjandra, are the formation of surveillance and early detection if there are problems with public health emergencies in any remote area in the country.

Another thing can be used as an instrument for the central government to immediately take action to deal with the situation so that the disease does not spread further.

"Next, there may be cooperation between regions to detect potential and immediately overcome public health emergencies," he said.