Australia works with the international community to improve global health systems and reduce global human biosecurity risks.

Our WHO obligations

As a member state of the World Health Organization (WHO), Australia must comply with the International Health Regulations (2005). These regulations help countries manage public health risks that may cross international borders. 

To find out more, see International Health Regulations (IHR).

Our role in meeting IHR standards

Annual reporting

We report every year on how Australia is meeting the IHR standards. To find out how we and other countries are progressing, see e-SPAR (WHO’s annual reporting tool).

Strengthening pandemic response

Australia is working with the WHO to improve the IHR and global health systems. Find out more about how we are helping to strengthen global health and international pandemic response. 

2017 Joint External Evaluation (JEE)

In 2017, Australia went through the JEE process to assess our ability to respond to public health risks. The JEE is part of the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The JEE report gave 66 recommendations to strengthen our health security systems in line with the IHR standards. Australia used the recommendations to produce a national action plan for health security.

WHAT’S THE WHO UP TO?

The WHO is currently preparing two treaty documents that reform the rules around how countries respond to pandemics and ‘potential health emergencies’,  all in the name of health and future pandemics. These treaty reforms are being drafted under urgency, behind closed doors, by unelected officials. The two treaties will hand the WHO the authority to make binding directions on how a country is required to respond to a potential public health emergency (not necessarily an actual one). Read more about the WHO and what they’re up to here.