What is a global medical emergency (PHEIC)?

An International Public Health Emergency (PHEIC) is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) when "an unusual event is determined to pose a public health risk to other countries. through the spread of the disease globally and a coordinated international response is needed. "

As such, the PHEIC statement is made when a 'serious, unusual, sudden' situation arises and "may require immediate international action". Meanwhile, WHO will become a bridge, mobilizing all international responses to prevent an epidemic.

The Global Health Emergency Declaration will include recommendations for all countries and territories with the purpose of preventing or reducing the risk of cross-border disease spread, avoiding unnecessary interference with travel and economic trade.

Countries are not required to contribute, but WHO welcomes and calls on countries to fund the organization's preparedness and response activities.

Following the outbreak of SARS in 2003, regulations for PHEIC were formulated and adopted in 2005 by 194 countries in the International Health Regulations (IHR).

Since its adoption up to now, WHO has declared 5 global health emergencies for pandemics including: H1N1 swine flu (2009), polio (2014), Ebola (2014), Zika (2015) and an Ebola recurrence (2019).

After WHO declared a new corona virus in China that caused the International Emergency Condition on Public Health (PHEIC), there are currently all 3 diseases considered PHEIC in the world. In addition to the new coronary pneumonia outbreak in 19 countries around the world, the other two epidemics are the outbreak of polio recurrence in the Middle East and Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

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