WASHINGTON (AN) — The United States and Italy formally rejected the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations, a move that undercuts a key effort by the 194-nation World Health Assembly to strengthen global pandemic preparedness.
Officials from both countries cited concerns the reforms would infringe on national sovereignty by allowing an international body to dictate domestic health policy. The amendments to the regulations, which took effect in 2007 and are legally binding on 196 countries, were intended to add a "pandemic emergency" category and improve access to medical products and financing.
