FIRST WORLD LOCAL PRODUCTION FORUM: Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies
21-25 June 2021, 13:00-15:30 (CEST)
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, many challenges remain, and new challenges have emerged, such as the lack or unaffordability of new health products and the lack of sufficiently trained personnel.
The World Local Production Forum Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies ( is a global community comprising foremost government leaders, technology experts, industry, the international community and other stakeholders under the auspice of WHO, for public health impact
The WLPF is a regular forum for the global community to stimulate engagement, dialogue and collaborate on opportunities and mechanisms for the promotion of local production and technology transfer, as part of health technology programmes and in line with global health needs 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 translate the spirit of the first interagency statement on promoting local production into practice
The COVID 19 pandemic has focused attention on diversifying production capacity geographically to contribute to the global production and supply of COVID 19 and other essential health products The first WLPF will serve as a platform to identify the challenges and opportunities in promoting local production and technology transfer to improve access during the COVID 19 pandemic and beyond This first WLPF will be convened virtually, organized by the WHO with the support of Member States and our partners The first WLPF includes plenaries, panel discussions, presentations and participatory discussions amongst
invited speakers and Forum attendees.