Joint external evaluation of the IHR (‎2005)‎ core capacities of Pakistan

Overview

Pakistan as signatory to the International Health Regulations (2005) is committed to implementing the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, composed of the four components of IHR States Parties Self-Assessment Annual Reporting Tool (SPAR), Joint External Evaluation (JEE), After-Action Review and Intra-Action Review (AAR and IAR) and simulation exercises to monitor progress of IHR implementation in the country.

 The second round of the JEE in 2023 was conducted more than five years after the first round in 2016. The external phase of the JEE in Pakistan was held from 15 to 24 May 2023 involving extensive consultations, technical discussions, and relevant field visits at the federal and provincial levels. The external phase  included evaluation visits conducted to two major provinces (Punjab and Sindh) and virtual discussions with other two provinces (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan) and federating regions (Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan).  The external evaluation team was composed of 13 experts from WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) and WHO headquarters, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Health Security Agency, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network and country peer experts from Tunisia and Portugal. A core national team – two persons for each technical area – were identified to take lead in the preparatory work and to engage with all relevant sectors for the follow-up. The national team worked under the guidance of Dr. Safi Malik, Dr. Muhammad Salman and Dr. Atiya Aabroo. The WHO Pakistan Country office, namely Dr Farah Sabih under the full guidance and leadership of WHO representative Dr. Palitha Mahipala, was heavily engaged in the preparations and provided all necessary technical and operational facilitation to the national and international expert teams.