International Law Applicable to Public Health Emergencies - Dr Richard Mackenzie-Gray Scott | Dr Jean-Pierre Gauci

International law has a role to play in framing and providing safeguards for effective responses to PHEs and in regulating the relationships between states and between states and other actors (such as international organizations) during PHEs. [...] States have an obligation to monitor for, and notify in case of, a PHE and to share information with other states and the WHO to ensure that they are able to adequately respond to PHEs. [...] The IHR define PHEs of international concern as an ‘extraordinary event’, determined (i) to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and (ii) to potentially require a coordinated international response. [...] Right to Health Human beings have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and the right to a healthy environment. [...] States are required to take measures necessary for the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; and the creation of conditions that assure medical services and medical attention to all persons in the event of sickness.