National policies, plans and legislation

National legislation encompasses a broad range of legal, administrative and other governmental instruments that may facilitate the implementation of the IHR (2005) by States Parties. It serves to institutionalize and strengthen the role of the IHR (2005) within a State Party and facilitates the necessary processes, including coordination and communication, among the relevant entities.

States Parties will:

• a. ensure political and financial commitments to develop and maintain IHR (2005) implementation at both the regional, national, and subnational levels. This will include the development of national policies and action plans for health emergency preparedness that clearly define the relevant roles, responsibilities, deliverables and timelines; and
• b. improve governance for multisectoral IHR implementation through whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. This may include, where necessary, support for the revision of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure coordination between sectors.

The Regional Office, in collaboration with key partners, will:

• a. advocate for and support integrated multisectoral IHR implementation to ensure that nonhealth sectors are engaged, as relevant, and have clear roles and responsibilities;
• b. support States Parties, upon request, in the development and revision of relevant national legislative and regulatory frameworks, and of standard operating procedures;
• c. collate examples of good practices of development of relevant national legal and regulatory frameworks for countries undergoing restructuring; and
• d. support States Parties in the development and implementation of national policies and costed action plans for health emergency preparedness and engage technical and financial partners, as relevant.