Statement by India on Agenda 7.4 - Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) at the 140th Session of the Executive Board Meeting of the WHO, delivered by Dr. Sumit Seth, First Secretary on 24 January 2017
Mr. Chair
The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), which is the only globally binding instrument on health, plays an important role in preventing and responding to health emergencies.
We must recognize that different countries are at different stages of development, and may not have uniform capacity and resources for meeting the diverse health challenges. Mechanisms that provide both financial and technical resources need to be developed in this regard.
Though the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool, which has been endorsed by the 2015 IHR Review Committee is voluntary, we still have our concerns as its implications might go beyond the health sector preparedness. We expect that sufficient safeguards are provided to address this concern.
Member States need to deliberate carefully on the issues related to transparency, independence, data security, relation to donor funding, which are still not clear. Any move which makes external evaluation as a precondition for receiving financial support and technical assistance, would go against the developmental paradigm.
Subject to these comments, we would be happy to work with WHO and Member States to arrive at an agreed understanding on the draft Global Implementation plan for the International Health Regulations (2005).
