"WHO Begins Review to Declare End of COVID-19 Emergency"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] Bloomberg reported on the 12th (local time) that the World Health Organization (WHO) has begun reviewing the conditions related to declaring the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19.

According to the report, WHO health experts are not currently considering declaring the end of the PHEIC for COVID-19, but they are privately discussing the conditions, timing, and methods for doing so.

WHO experts are known to be considering the various impacts that declaring the end of the PHEIC would have. However, Pfizer and Merck & Company (MSD) have agreed to allow the production of generic versions of their COVID-19 treatments until the pandemic ends, and vaccine manufacturers such as AstraZeneca have also agreed to keep their vaccine prices low during the pandemic. Therefore, if WHO declares the end of the PHEIC, it could affect treatments and vaccines, which is reportedly the primary consideration.

Experts also warn that even if the number of new confirmed cases decreases, COVID-19 can continue to cause many deaths unlike other diseases. The possibility of new variants emerging is also continuously being raised.

The WHO's declaration of the end of the PHEIC is made by the Director-General in consultation with experts, just as it was when the emergency was first declared.

Previously, WHO declared the PHEIC on January 30, 2020, about a month after COVID-19 was first reported in China.

PHEIC is the highest level of alert declared under the International Health Regulations (IHR) when a disease is judged to be spreading internationally and poses a risk to public health in other countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.