International Health Regulations

The International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) play a key role in shaping the way the world prepares for and responds to emergencies. An international legal instrument, IHR (2005) provides a unique global framework to protect people from health emergencies of any type, whereby its 196 States Parties commit to reporting public health emergencies of international concern and to strengthening national preparedness and response systems.

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Key resource

International Health Regulations

In response to the exponential increase in international travel and trade, and emergence and reemergence of international disease threats and other health risks, 194 countries across the globe have agreed to implement the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR).

The IHR in two pages

International Health Regulations (IHR)

All you need to know about the IHR on two pages

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Voices of the Region

Ana Kasradze, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Georgia, speaks of how the IHR support her daily work, and explains that they have strengthened Georgia’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats

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New publication

Exercise JADE 2019 - Report

In November 2019, the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) Programme for the WHO Regional Office for Europe conducted a functional simulation exercise called Exercise JADE (Joint Assessment and Detection of Events).

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Enhancing emergency preparedness and response in the WHO European Region

WHO helps countries to prepare for and respond to health emergencies by offering technical guidance, support and coordinating in the field.