WORLD LOCAL PRODUCTION FORUM

Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies

The World Local Production Forum: Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies (WLPF) is a global platform to draw high-level attention and stimulate discussions on key issues, challenges and opportunities related to local production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and other health products.

For over two decades, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of local production and related technology transfer in the context of promoting equitable access to medicines and other health technologies. Progress has been made in promoting local production and improving access; however, existing challenges remain, and new challenges have emerged.

The WLPF is a regular forum designed to generate actionable recommendations and other substantial outcomes which will benefit local production, with the overarching objectives of improved access to quality, safe and effective health products and technologies and safeguarding global, regional and national health security. The WLPF aims to call Member States’ attention in aligning the production of health products as essential long-term infrastructure akin to food, water and energy as safeguards to protect national, regional and global security. It also aims to transform the spirit of the first interagency statement on promoting local production into practice.

In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, global manufacturing capacity has been shown to be insufficient to meet global health needs; and diversifying manufacturing of health products geographically to complement existing production chains could contribute to addressing the global needs.The World Health Organization, with the support of Member States and partners, is organizing the first WLPF. This first WLPF is a virtual event held from 21-25 June 2021, and provides a global arena to stimulate dialogue and collaboration on opportunities and mechanisms for the promotion of local production and technology transfer as part of health technology programmes in line with national, regional and global health needs and during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Who we are

A global community of the foremost leaders, technology experts, industry, international organizations and other stakeholders under the auspices of WHO for public health impact.

What we do

We provide a global platform for engagement, dialogue and collective action. This allows us to:

Identify and address the challenges in promoting local production and technology transfer;
Support technology transfer of health products in the context of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism established by the SDGs;
Promote sustainable local production of quality-assured health products and technologies, through both North-South and South-South cooperation;
Consider opportunities and solutions to improve access to quality, safe and effective health products and technologies, and to safeguard health security
Promote partnership in enhancing technology transfer and local production to improve access

Why have the WLPF

There is no global platform to draw high-level attention and discuss key issues surrounding technology transfer and local production to improve access and protect health security. The WLPF serves to fill this gap and will be an ongoing initiative. In addition:

The COVID-19 pandemic visibly demonstrated weaknesses in global production capacity and global supply chains, which hindered timely access to priority health products.

In WHA Decisions WHA71(9) and WHA73(11), Member States have requested WHO to seek new mechanisms and opportunities to increase technology transfers and promote local production.

The Organizer

The World Health Organization is uniquely positioned at the intersection of Member States and multi-stakeholders to tackle health challenges, strengthen health security and achieve health related SDGs.

The World Health Organization, with support of Member States and partners, is organizing the first WLPF. The Local Production and Assistance Unit is serving as the WLPF Secretariat.

The Local Production & Assistance (LPA) Unit supports Member States in strengthening sustainable local production and technology transfer, to improve access to quality-assured health products. More information on the Local Production & Assistance Unit.

Objectives of the WLPF

Provide a global platform to discuss challenges in promoting local production and technology transfer to improve access to quality, safe and effective health products and technologies, and to safeguard global, regional and national health security
Identify priority health technologies with greatest need for transfer to LMICs to address existing and future challenges
Explore mechanisms and opportunities to promote and facilitate the transfer and local production of these high priority technologies
Identify key areas of training that support capacity building for local production and technology transfer
Promote partnerships and business linkages to enhance technology transfer and local production
Provide clear recommendations and actions for implementation by stakeholders

2nd World Local Production Forum

9 May 2023

Expression of interest

Open call for expression of interest: Request for floorspace for networking and marketplace during the 2nd WLPF

13 April 2023

Departmental news

Join the global effort to enhance access to medicines and other health technologies: the 2nd World Local Production Forum to be held in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2023

Participation in the WLPF is by invitation-only. If your country/organization has already nominated you for participation, you will be sent a formal registration link. A limited number of places may be available to interested individuals working in this area. If you would like to register your interest to attend as an individual, please provide your details by clicking on the “REGISTER HERE” link. All individual expressions of interest will be evaluated. As we may not be able to accommodate all expressions of interest, selected individuals will be sent a formal registration link.