LAHORE - Pakistan has yet to start the process of preparation of legal framework within institutions for implementation of International Health Regulations aimed at preventing the spread of diseases across borders.
Pakistan is amongst last two countries having polio reservoirs and as such at high risk of tougher travel sanctions if the prevailing scenario persists.
The IHR 2005 is an agreement signed by 196 countries including all member states of World Health Organization (WHO) to work together for global health security.
The IHR aims “to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.
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As a signatory to IHR 2005, Pakistan is required to build up its National Surveillance and Response Capacity in Public Health Emergencies covering aspects in areas such as communicable diseases, environmental hazards, quarantine issues, food safety and chemical and radioactive events.
Neither the federal government nor any of the provinces has taken initiative for implementation of IHR to avoid any global restriction like travel sanctions.
The initiative of biggest federating unit Punjab was just holding a workshop to advocate and develop capacities of stakeholders on IHR.
The sole event arranged with the collaboration of WHO on December 1, 2015 discussed nine VPDs (Vaccine Preventable Diseases) including Polio.
Representatives from EPI program, WHO, Civil Aviation Authority, Home Department, Livestock and Dairy Department, PITB, Epidemic Prevention and Control Program, TB Control Program, Wahga Border Security, Pharmacy Department, Institute of Public Heath, AIDS program, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Agriculture Department, Disaster Management Authority, Environment and Education departments participated in the workshop.
Since then no initiative has been taken for health security and to identify priority areas in the provincial context.
As per the WHO officials, the regulations provide a legal frame work for the prevention, detection and containment of public health risks at source, before they spread across borders.
The IHR also includes specific measures at ports, airports and ground crossings to limit the spread of health risks to neighboring countries, and to prevent unwarranted travel and trade restrictions so that traffic and trade disruption is kept to a minimum.
The states develop capacities to assess appropriate medical services, services for transport of ill persons, trained personnel to inspect ships, aircrafts and other conveyances and ensure maintenance of a healthy environment as well as ensuring plans and facilities to apply emergency measures for quarantine.
Under IHR, countries have agreed to build their capacities to detect, assess and report public health events.
WHO plays the coordinating role in IHR and, together with its partners, helps countries to build capacities.
