Selangor Journal
The headquarters of the World Health Organisation (WHO) is pictured during the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18, 2020. — Picture by REUTERS

WHO Pandemic Treaty draft, IHR 2005 amendment to be presented in May

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 11 — The draft of the Pandemic Treaty of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Convention Agreement (WHO CA+) and the amendment of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) are set to be presented at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in May next year, said Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan speaks during the Health White Paper town hall session for the northern zone, at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town, Penang, on May 2, 2023. — Picture by BERNAMA

He said several discussion and negotiation sessions on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) are ongoing until their conclusion in April next year.

“To date, negotiations for the preparation of the INB WHO CA+ document are still at an early stage, and nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” Dr Radzi said in a statement today.

Last month, he said Malaysia’s position in the WHO CA+ negotiations and IHR 2005 amendments is clear, which is to protect the interests of public health and the country’s sovereignty,

WHO and all member states have agreed to establish two international negotiation platforms, INB to produce an international instrument known as INB WHO Ca+ (pandemic treaty) and WGIHR.

This is to strengthen the aspects of preparedness, prevention, detection and response to pandemics at the international level to reduce the impact on a country in particular.

Meanwhile, Dr Radzi said the Health Ministry (MoH) takes a serious view of the claim that ‘ISR shots’ will be forcibly administered to all Malaysians.

Clarifying that such a vaccine does not exist, he said those responsible for this misinformation have confused the public, as MoH has never issued any such directive.

“This is pure slander and is a baseless accusation which can cause anxiety among the Malaysian public and tarnish MOH’s image,” Dr Radzi said, urging the public to stop spreading false and unverified information.

— Bernama

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