Joint external evaluation of the International Health Regulations (‎2005)‎ core capacities of Iraq: mission report, 17-21 September 2023

Overview

The JEE team extends its sincere appreciation to the Republic of Iraq for volunteering for a second round of the JEE, and for being the second country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to complete this evaluation using the latest, third edition of the JEE tool. This revised tool incorporates lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of health security capacities. Iraq’s commitment to health security is evident through its proactive participation in health evaluations. The country conducted its first JEE in 2019, followed by a Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) between December 2021 and March 2022. As the first Eastern Mediterranean country and the second globally to pilot the UHPR, Iraq assessed its national preparedness capacities using a health systems approach, leading to a comprehensive report endorsed by the Prime Minister in March 2022. The UHPR report, published online in August 2023, provides high-priority recommendations that complement the JEE findings.

The JEE mission in Iraq commenced with a Self-Evaluation phase on 29 April 2023, followed by an External Expert Evaluation from 17 to 21 September 2023 in Baghdad. This peer-to-peer consultative process involved a multisectoral group of national experts collaborating with the multinational, multidisciplinary JEE team. Over four months, stakeholders across ministries engaged in preparatory activities, including training on evaluation requirements, document preparation, and score assessments.