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Abstract
The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, as the overarching instrument for global health security, are designed to prevent and cope with major international public health threats. But poor implementation in countries hampers their effectiveness. In the wake of a number of major international health crises, such as the 2014 Ebola and 2016 Zika outbreaks, and the findings of a number of high-level assessments of the global response to these crises, it has become clear that there is a need for more joined-up thinking between health system strengthening activities and health security efforts for prevention, alert and response. WHO is working directly with its Member States to promote this approach, more specifically around how to better embed the IHR (2005) core capacities into the main health system functions. This paper looks at how and where the intersections between the IHR and the health system can be best leveraged towards developing greater health system resilience. This merging of approaches is a key component in pursuit of Universal Health Coverage and strengthened global health security as two mutually reinforcing agendas.
- health policies and all other topics
- public health
- health systems
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Footnotes
Handling editor Seye Abimbola
Contributors HK provided strategic guidance. GP developed the concept and undertook the purposive literature review, and GP and HK drafted the manuscript. JMM, NE, GR, EK and MV reviewed the manuscript and provided expert input and revision. GP is the author for correspondence.
Disclaimer HK, NE, GR, EK, MV and GP are staff members of the World Health Organization. The author alone are responsible for the views expressed in this publication and they do not necessarily represent the views, decisions or policies of the World Health Organization.
Competing interests HK, NE, GR, EK, MV and GP work for WHO. JMM is a consultant and advisor to the WHO Regional Office for Europe on public health.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data sharing statement No additional data are available.