World Council for Health Policy Documents

The World Council for Health (WCH) works with different expert groups in the development of policy briefs to present research and recommendations to specialized and non-specialized audiences on a variety of essential issues. These documents serve to provide evidence-based policy advice to help readers make informed decisions.

Policy Briefs

Rejecting Monopoly Power Over Global Public Health

On the proposed IHR (2005) amendments and WHO pandemic treaty
WHO IHR 2005 Amendments and Pandemic Treaty. Rejecting Monopoly Power over Global Public Health.

This newly released, in-depth WCH policy brief showcases – with original references – the most important amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) that have been submitted as well as central parts of the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty/Accord (WHO CA+) draft. It explains why they differ from previous approaches to global public health in a significant way. It further illustrates why the undue concentration of power in the field of global public health and the provision of a legal framework for such using the WHO constitute a threat to health, sovereignty and democratic governance that requires a swift, effective and robust response. In addition, legislative and educational measures are recommended via the policy brief to strengthen public health and to achieve better preparedness, efficient international collaboration and sharing with regard to global health emergencies while avoiding monopolization and ensuring the robustness of democratic ideals in times of crisis.

Download the summary here. Download the full policy brief here.

Policy Briefs

WHO IHR 2005 Amendments and Pandemic Treaty. Rejecting Monopoly Power over Global Public Health. scaled

Rejecting Monopoly Power Over Global Public Health
On the proposed IHR (2005) amendments and WHO pandemic treaty

This newly released, in-depth WCH policy brief showcases – with original references – the most important amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) that have been submitted as well as central parts of the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty/Accord (WHO CA+) draft. It explains why they differ from previous approaches to global public health in a significant way. It further illustrates why the undue concentration of power in the field of global public health and the provision of a legal framework for such using the WHO constitute a threat to health, sovereignty and democratic governance that requires a swift, effective and robust response. In addition, legislative and educational measures are recommended via the policy brief to strengthen public health and to achieve better preparedness, efficient international collaboration and sharing with regard to global health emergencies while avoiding monopolization and ensuring the robustness of democratic ideals in times of crisis.

Download the summary here. Download the full policy brief here.