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IHR core capacities

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The IHR core capacities are those required to detect, assess, notify and report events, and respond to public health risks and emergencies of national and international concern, as stipulated in Articles 5 and 13, and Annex 1, of the Regulations.

The IHR monitoring process involves assessment of the development and implementation of eight core capacities at points of entry and for IHR-related hazards. These hazards may be biological (zoonotic, food safety and other infectious hazards), chemical, radiological or nuclear.

The implementation and monitoring of core capacities continues to present a challenge in many technical areas, including legislation, points of entry, surveillance and response, laboratory capacity, human resource development and chemical radionuclear safety. Effective multisectoral collaboration remains a priority. WHO, its partners and States Parties need to continue working collectively to bridge identified gaps in IHR core capacities in the most efficient and effective way, using existing strategic approaches, networks and resources.

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Legislation and policy

Coordination

Surveillance

Response

Preparedness

Risk communication

Human resources

Laboratory

Points of entry

Public health concerns including infectious, chemical, radiological, food, and zoonosis

Related documents

Checklist and indicators for monitoring progress in the development of IHR core capacities in States Parties

Information to States Parties regarding determination of fulfillment of IHR core capacity requirements for 2012 and potential extensions

Summary of 2011 States Parties report on IHR core capacity implementation

 

Background

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IHR 1969 and 2005 publications, thumbWhat has changed?The IHR were first adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1969 and covered six diseases. The Regulations were amended in 1973, and then in 1981, to focus on three diseases: cholera, yellow fever and plague. With the increase in international travel and trade, and the emergence, re-emergence and international spread of disease and other threats, the World Health Assembly called for a substantial revision in 1995.

The revision extended the scope of diseases and related health events covered by the IHR to take into account almost all public health risks (biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear in origin) that might affect human health, irrespective of the source.

The revised Regulations (2005) were adopted at the Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly on 23 May 2005 and entered into force on 15 June 2007. They require States Parties to notify a potentially wide range of events to the WHO. Key implementation milestones for States Parties include:

the assessment of their surveillance and response capacities; 

the development and implementation of plans of action to ensure that these core capacities are functioning by 2012.

IHR briefs

IHRbrief no.1: Introduction to the IHR (2005) [pdf 25kb]

IHRbrief no.2: Notification and reporting requirements under IHR (2005) [pdf 42kb]

IHRbrief no.3: Points of entry under the IHR (2005) [pdf 39kb]

 

IHR background and resolutions

IHR archive 

About the programme

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The IHR require countries to have in place the core public health capacities to be able to respond to public health events. They require WHO to monitor and request verification on reported events and provide support to response efforts.

Relevant health topics

IHR (2005)

Related documents

Three top priorities for States Parties [pdf 28kb]

Areas of work for IHR implementation [pdf 367kb]

International Health Regulations (2005) toolkit for implementation in national legislation: the national IHR focal point [pdf 414kb]

Related links

IHR core capacities