What is IHR?

The International Health Regulations or IHR is a set of international laws which help countries work together to agree on the same rules in covering public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), preventing international spread of diseases and other health risks.

The IHR was revised as the IHR 2005 (the first IHR was implemented by the WHO member States in 1969), as a result of the 48th World Health Assembly in 1995. Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) member nations observed the onslaught of the resurgence of cholera in Africa, the plague in India, the emergence of new infectious agents such as Ebola in the 1990s and thus, called for the revision of the IHR 1969.

What is PHEIC?

PHEIC stands for Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is a parameter that the WHO has set to ensure adequate and early communications about potential international public health emergencies in each member State which may constitute as a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease; and as those which may potentially require a coordinated international response .

For an event to be classified as a PHEIC the following criteria should be satisfied:
• seriousness of the public health impact of the event;
• unusual or unexpected nature of the event;
• potential for the event to spread internationally; and/or
• the risk that restrictions to travel or trade may result because of the event.

Why is there a need for IHR?

New challenges have arisen in the areas of public health control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; the progress of an increase in cross-border travel and trade; and the fast development of communication technology. In all these aspects, a need has arisen to increase the confidence of countries in reporting significant and/or unusual disease events, by linking early disclosure to prompt support and accurate information dissemination about the nature of these health events.

The IHR 2005 aims to prevent, protect against, control and respond to the international spread of disease while avoiding unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

When was the IHR implemented?

The IHR was implemented on June 15, 2007 by all WHO member States including all its sectors, ministries, levels, officials and personnel at the National level.

What is an IHR Focal Point?

The establishment of National IHR Focal Points is intended to promote and facilitate information sharing between WHO and its Member States. Greater understanding of the event as it unfolds, plus the assurance of timely technical collaboration, is expected to lead to a climate of greater willingness on the part of Member States to contact the WHO when a possible public health emergency of international concern is suspected.

The National Epidemiology Center (NEC) was named as the National IHR Focal Point in the Philippines. The IHR requires that the NEC will be responsible for the following activities, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• respond to requests for verification of information regarding events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern;
• respond to public health risks which may spread internationally;
• develop, strengthen and maintain the capacity to detect, report and respond to public health events;
• provide routine facilities, services, inspections and control activities at designated international airports, ports and ground crossings to prevent the international spread of disease;
• report to WHO evidence of a public health risk identified outside their territory which may cause international disease spread, manifested by exported/imported human cases, vectors carrying infection or contamination, contaminated goods;
• respond appropriately to WHO-recommended measures; and
• collaborate with other States Parties and with WHO on IHR (2005) implementation.