When does a major outbreak become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern?

Authors

David N. Durrheim, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, CallaghanFollow
Lawrence O. Gostin, Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health LawFollow
Keymanthri Moodley, Centre for Medical Ethics and Law, Stellenbosch University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-19-2020

DOI

10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30401-1

Abstract

The process of determining whether a Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) exists and should be declared has drawn increasing criticism over the past few years with allegations that it is more political than technical. Delaying declaration, where appropriate, means that the opportunity of garnering international solidarity and necessary resources in the early phases of epidemics, when public health measures may be more effective, is lost. A reform agenda aimed at enhancing WHO/Emergency Committee transparency and objectivity for the PHEIC declaration process is required.

Publication Citation

Lancet Infectious Diseases, Online First.

Scholarly Commons Citation

Durrheim, David N.; Gostin, Lawrence O.; and Moodley, Keymanthri, "When does a major outbreak become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern?" (2020). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 2268.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2268