TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

World Health Organization (WHO)

At its meeting of 10 July 2024, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental organization observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.

The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the World Health Organization (WHO) by means of a communication dated 3 October 2024.

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1  Introduction

1.  This communication summarizes the technical cooperation activities of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the area of public health, innovation and intellectual property that have taken place since the last report in October 2023 (document _IP/C/R/TC/WHO/4). The overall objective of WHO's technical cooperation is to strengthen the capacity of developing countries in the areas of health innovation, timely access to medicines and management of intellectual property in a manner that maximizes public health.

2.  WHO's technical cooperation is based on its mandate derived from the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI) as well as relevant resolutions and decisions of the World Health Assembly, including WHA72.8 on "Improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines, and other health products"[1], WHA73.1 on the "COVID-19 response,"[2] WHA74.6 on 'Strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access'[3] and WHA75.14 on the extension of the time frame of the "Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property" from 2022 to 2030.[4]

3.  In resolution WHA74.6, the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly emphasized the need to improve access to quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines and other health technologies, inter alia, through cooperation with, support to and development of voluntary patent pools and other voluntary initiatives. WHA74.6, inter alia, requested the WHO Director-General to continue to provide technical support, as appropriate, upon request, in collaboration with other competent international organizations, like WIPO and the WTO, including to policy processes and to countries that intend to make use of the provisions contained in the TRIPS Agreement, including the flexibilities affirmed by the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health in order to promote access to pharmaceutical products.[5]

4.  In 2023 and 2024, WHO undertook a consultation with ember States to identify remaining needs in the implementation of the GSPA-PHI, and following the mandate set out in WHA Resolution 75.14[6], in consultation with member States, developed a new implementation plan for the GSPA-PHI for the 2024-2026 biennium.[7] The 2024-26 GSPA-PHI implementation plan notes the relevance of World Trade Organization (WTO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and other international organizations as stakeholders for several of the planned actions for the eight Elements of the strategy, including for Element 4 (Technology transfer) and Element 5 (Application and management of intellectual property to contribute to innovation and promote public health).

5.  WHO, through its Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices collaborates closely with relevant international organizations on topics related to the interface between public health, innovation, intellectual property and trade. WHO has requested full support and collaboration from WIPO, WTO and other international organizations to ensure efficient and effective implementation of certain prioritized actions of the GSPA-PHI overall programme review panel. Activities focus on technical guidance, transfer of technology, local manufacturing, capacity-building and training, and direct technical assistance to Member States.