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. 2025 Jul 4;16(3):1-8.
doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.3.1245. eCollection 2025 Jul-Sep.

Progress on International Health Regulations (2005) core capacities in WHO's Western Pacific Region

Kai Xiao  1 , Qiu Yi Khut  1 , Phuong Nam Nguyen  1 , Ariuntuya Ochirpurev  1 , Sean T Casey  1 , Jessica Kayamori Lopes  1 , Gina Samaan  1
Affiliations

Progress on International Health Regulations (2005) core capacities in WHO's Western Pacific Region

Kai Xiao et al. Western Pac Surveill Response J. .

Abstract

The International Health Regulations (2005; IHR) are a legally binding instrument for the 196 States Parties, including the 194 Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), requiring them to build and maintain capacities across critical domains to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats. In an analysis of 15 IHR (2005) core capacity scores reported by States Parties in WHO's Western Pacific Region from 2021 to 2023, average regional scores increased from 68% in 2021 to 72% in 2022, then declined to 66% in 2023. Seven States Parties maintained consistently strong scores (≥ 85%), whereas nine exhibited fluctuations of at least 10 percentage points. Categorizing States Parties into three groups based on geographical and economic characteristics highlighted that core capacities such as financing, food safety and the control of zoonotic diseases were areas requiring additional capacity-building, particularly among Pacific Island States Parties. Low- and middle-income States Parties also reported notable gaps in financing and infection prevention and control. These findings underscore the need to strengthen national coordination and accountability mechanisms. The strategic establishment or designation of a National IHR Authority - a key amendment introduced in the 2024 revision of the IHR - has the potential to enhance implementation by ensuring institutional leadership, fostering multisectoral collaboration and facilitating resource mobilization. However, national efforts alone may not be sufficient. Regional coordination will enhance political commitment and promote coordinated action, thereby strengthening preparedness and response capacities across diverse contexts and supporting more effective implementation of the IHR (2005).

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Conflict of interest statement

STC is an associate editor and GS is the executive editor of the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response journal. They were not involved in the editorial decision to publish this article. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Average score of States Parties (N = 26) on specific International Health Regulations (2005) core capacity, by income or geographical area, WHO Western Pacific Region, 2023a
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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