The Importance of Public Health Emergency of International Concern

After the SARS-1 hysteria of 2003, there was a push for amendment and sweeping reform of these IHR international health regulations. A PHEIC is a specific declaration that is made ultimately by the Director General of the World Health Organization. An independent investigation from the Council of Europe found that there were serious conflicts of interest between the independent advisory board that advised then WHO Director General Margaret Chan to declare an emergency.