Health experts write to PM Modi on amendments in IHR
The Statesman | 16 July 2025
Health experts across the country have urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reject the proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) before 19 July, deadline for ratifications.
The IHR are a legal framework adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help the international community prevent and respond to public health risks that can cross borders and threaten people worldwide.
These regulations, binding on 196 countries, require nations to report certain disease outbreaks and public health events to WHO and establish procedures for the global health body to follow in upholding public health security.
The experts, Pune-based Dr Amitava Banerjee, formerly epidemiologist, Indian Armed Forces, Dr Jacob Puliyel, paediatrician and visiting faculty of International Institute of Health Management Research in Delhi, Dr Mira Shiva, Mumbai-based public health expert, public policy expert Dr Dorothy Narasimha Reddy of Hyderabad and other researchers and social activists wrote to the PM: “The WHO has been pursuing significant amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), which, if adopted, would give the WHO, an unelected international entity, unduly increased authority over national health decisions, including responses to future public health emergencies. These amendments are being made, parallel to the World Pandemic Treaty.”
The WHO is requesting member countries to ratify sweeping amendments to the IHR by 19 July. In their current form, if adopted, these amendments confer unprecedented authority upon external bodies to influence or even override India’s domestic public-health decisions and even the Constitution. The country should not surrender its sovereign health decisions the experts urged the PM and requested him to reject the proposed IHR.
They have also proposed that a parliamentary debate should be organised on the issue before the proposed IHR amendments.