IHR amendments and the "pandemic agreement" an Israeli perspective

The 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024 agreed on several key amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005), which are set to enhance global public health preparedness and response mechanisms. These amendments are part of a broader effort to integrate the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to create a more globally interconnected and rapid global response mechanism for future health crises, including a new Pandemic Agreement.

Globally and in Israel, some voice their concern that the IHR amendments and the Pandemic Agreement could undermine a nation's sovereign right to manage its public health response, infringe on national autonomy, or impose obligations such as sharing resources like diagnostics, medicines, technology, or vaccines, which could be seen as detrimental to national interests. This manuscript describes the IHR amendments and the ongoing work on the Pandemic Agreement. It explains how the documents do not undermine national sovereignty and highlights the moral and utilitarian justifications for Israeli support of these global legal documents. From a moral perspective, Israel should be committed to promoting the value of global public health and universal health coverage at both the international and regional levels. From a utilitarian perspective, provisions ensuring access to products and information will assist Israel in preparing for and protecting against health threats originating in neighboring countries and globally. Moreover, asking countries to be better ready may promote awareness and actions of public health services in Israel, which has long suffered from budgetary and health workforce constraints.

Israel must work to promote the endorsement of the Pandemic Agreement and the IHR amendments, as they are essential documents for addressing public health threats without compromising national sovereignty.