Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

This paper centers on global health. It shows how communicable disease is a common danger to international community which requires collective efforts in order to make the world a living place. Consequently, the international community adopts International Health Regulations (IHR) to manage the global health. The recent outbreak of the novel Corona Virus (Covid-19), a communicable disease of international concern, gave rise to some serious issues between State Parties to IHR on one hand, and State party and WHO on another. The issues center on allegations of breaching some provisions of IHR to wit: lack of transparency regarding the origin and spread of the virus and mismanagement of information respectively. This made the United States threatening to reconsider its membership in the WHO. The paper considers the issues as capable of threatening international peace and security, it therefore, analyzes some relevant provisions of IHR which shows that the combine effects of Articles 6, 11 & 45 of the Regulations provide a good legal framework for managing diseases of international concern. However, a political will that gives life to any legal framework which seems to be lacking in this case. The paper also examines the dispute resolution under the IHR which is purely arbitral in nature. Finally, the paper gives some recommendations as a way forward.

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