Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on implementation of amendments to International Health Regulations
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The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft government proposal for nationally implementing the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). Comments can be submitted between 27 January and 7 March 2025.
The IHR are the key international agreement in force and the key foundation for international cooperation covering measures to prepare for, and respond to, cross-border health threats. The purpose of the IHR is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of communicable diseases.
Better tools to prevent and combat pandemics and other health threats
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Member States assessed that the international regulatory framework for preparing for pandemics and other health threats should be strengthened. The WHO Member States started negotiating amendments to the IHR in November 2022, and the amendments were adopted at the World Health Assembly on 1 June 2024. The outcome of the negotiations was in line with Finland’s position and objectives.
The IHR amendments provide the international community with better tools to prevent and combat pandemics and other health threats. The amendments also include minor technical updates.
Amendments to result in no major practical impact or additional costs for Finland
The amendments to the IHR mainly entail changes to the terminology used. The Member States are also requested to designate a separate National IHR Authority along with the current National IHR Focal Point. Finland’s IHR Focal Point is the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and it is proposed that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health be designated as the National IHR Authority. Designating a new authority would have no major impact on Finland in practice.
The new amendments to the IHR introduce a definition of a pandemic emergency, but this will not create any new duties or resourcing needs for Finland. In addition to disease prevention, the scope of the IHR is expanded to include preparedness for the international spread of diseases, and the IHR now include the obligation to prevent public health threats.
These new duties are such that are already being carried out by Finland under the current national legislation or that Finland aims to develop in other respects, too. Therefore, the amendments are not expected to result in any additional costs for Finland.
One of the additions to the IHR includes establishing a Coordinating Financial Mechanism, which could increase financing needs in a situation where the current financial mechanisms prove insufficient. This is not expected to impose any significant new costs on Finland either, because financing is voluntary.
Amendments to be considered by the Government, Parliament and the President of the Republic
The WHO Director-General sent a notification of the IHR amendments to all Member States in September 2024. The Member States have ten months following this notification to discuss and accept the amendments at the national level. The amendments will enter into force 12 months after the date of the notification by the Director-General for all those Member States that do not opt out of the amendments.
In Finland, the amendments will be considered first by the Government, then by Parliament and finally by the President of the Republic.
Inquiries:
Mirka-Tuulia Kuoksa, Ministerial Adviser, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi
Jenna Uusitalo, Legal Adviser, firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi