GENEVA, Switzerland / RankWire.AI / – INTERPOL and the World Health Organization have entered into a partnership to confront dangers that intersect public health and security concerns. The agreement was announced on October 16 from their respective headquarters in Lyon and Geneva. This framework combines INTERPOL’s law enforcement capabilities with WHO’s leadership in public health, establishing joint strategies to prevent, detect, and respond to risks that threaten lives globally. INTERPOL, with its 196 member countries, partners with WHO, which operates in more than 150 locations.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted the growing link between crime and health, citing falsified medical products and the exploitation of vulnerable populations as examples of how criminal networks jeopardize lives. He emphasized that the agreement enhances the agency’s ability to collaborate with WHO to safeguard communities and bring those posing threats to justice. The cooperation was endorsed by INTERPOL’s General Assembly during its 2024 session in Glasgow.
Initially, the pact will concentrate on extraordinary situations requiring coordinated health and security interventions, such as incidents involving suspected misuse of chemical or radioactive substances, or unusual biological events—whether natural, accidental, or intentional—that demand rapid information sharing among police, health ministries, and emergency services. Recent warnings from WHO have included rising cholera deaths and other outbreaks that challenge health systems. The new framework aims to connect these responses across borders.
Focus on major events and organ trafficking
The two organizations will also coordinate efforts around large international events and mass gatherings, with the goal of helping nations prepare for and respond to health threats in high-profile settings. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that health security is equivalent to global security and that closer collaboration with INTERPOL enhances collective efforts to prevent harm and manage emergencies. He also noted that this partnership aims to shield populations from threats that weaken health systems and erode public trust.
Another key area for cooperation is the trafficking of individuals for organ removal. The agreement also targets illegal trade in human organs, tissues, and cells. The 2024 General Assembly resolution from INTERPOL listed organ trafficking among the health-related crimes of shared concern, alongside the misuse of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials. This joint initiative is designed to assist national authorities in detecting such crimes earlier and supporting investigations to hold offenders accountable.
Combating falsified medicines and tobacco issues
The pact also addresses the increasing threat of illicit products impacting public health, including falsified medicines, vaccines, medical devices, counterfeit personal protective equipment, unsafe or fraudulently labeled food and beverages, and illegally produced alcohol. WHO’s 2017 estimate indicated that approximately 1 in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries was substandard or falsified, based on 48,000 medicine samples from 88 countries. To combat these dangers, the collaboration will support efforts to implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which has 183 parties and has been in force since February 27, 2005. Through joint actions, INTERPOL and WHO intend to help nations identify these threats, protect consumers, and strengthen international safety frameworks. The 94th session of INTERPOL’s General Assembly will be held in Hong Kong from November 30 to December 3.