Rejection of the updated International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) could jeopardize public health protection. The Doctors Speak Out initiative pointed out this, saying that the rules represent a basic tool for global cooperation in preventing and managing health threats such as epidemics or pandemics. Minister of Health Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD) stated that the ministry is not rejecting the revision of the rules, but is only delaying joining it until the identified legal gaps are resolved.
"As healthcare professionals, we consider it extremely important that Slovakia remains part of the international early warning system, exchange of expert information and coordinated action in protecting public health. Cooperation with international institutions is not a matter of politics, but of patient safety and protecting the health of the population," the initiative explained.
They therefore expect the Slovak government to approach this issue based on scientific knowledge and in the interest of protecting public health. They called on health authorities to publicly reject such practices. "They will isolate us from international cooperation and endanger the public health of the citizens of this country," they noted.
The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic announced on Tuesday (March 10) that the Slovak government will decide on the rejection of the IHR revision adopted at the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024. It clarified that during the interdepartmental assessment of the proposal, it pointed out several potential constitutional and legal risks associated with the adoption of the changes. According to the ministry, the department's reservations were also confirmed by opinions written by the law faculties of Comenius University in Bratislava and Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica.
Šaško emphasized that the medical part of the regulations is not a problem. However, according to the Minister, several relevant institutions have named certain issues in the legal area. Several opposition parties have also warned of the risks associated with a potential rejection of the regulations. They are asking the Minister of Health not to present the rejection of international health regulations to the government at Wednesday's meeting.
Source: TASR
