IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
12 October 2021  
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Council for Trade -Related Aspects  of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English   
 
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS  
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)  
At its meeting of  9 June 2021 , 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  4 October 2021 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
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 2020 (document IP/C/R/TC/WHO/1). The 
overall objective of WHO 's technical cooperation is to strengthen the capacity of developing countries 
in the areas of health i nnovation, access to medicines and management of intellectual property.  
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 oth er relevant 
resolutions 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, " and WHA74.6 on "Strengthening local production of medicines and other health 
technologies to improve access. "Resolution WHA72.8, in particular, requests the Director -General 
to continue supporting existing efforts to determine the patent status of health products and pro mote 
publicly available user -friendly patent status information databases for public health actors and to 
work with other relevant international organizations and stakeholders to improve international 
cooperation, avoid duplication of work, and promote rel evant initiatives.  
3.  In resolution WHA73.1, the Seventy -third World Health Assembly, inter alia , called on 
international organizations and other stakeholders to work collaboratively at all levels to develop, 
test, and scale -up production of safe, effective, quality, affordable diagnostics, therapeutics, 
medicines and vaccines for the COVID -19 response, including existing mechanisms for voluntary 
pooling and licensing of patents in order to facilitate timely, equitable and affordable access to them, 
consistent  with the provisions of relevant international treaties, including the provisions of the 
Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS  Agreement) and the 
flexibilities within the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Publi c Health.2 
4.  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 deve lopment of voluntary patent pools and other 
voluntary initiatives, such as the WHO COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP) and the Medicines 
 
1 https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA72/A72_R8 -en.pdf  
2 https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA73/A73_R1 -en.pdf  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  Patent Pool. WHA74.6, inter alia , requested the WHO Director -General to continue to provide 
technical support, as a ppropriate, upon request, in collaboration with other competent international 
organizations, in particular WIPO and WTO, including to policy processes and to countries that intend 
to make use of the provisions contained in the TRIPS Agreement, including th e flexibilities affirmed 
by the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health in order to promote access to 
pharmaceutical products.3  
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 im plementation 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 countries. W HO, WIPO and WTO are also working in close collaboration to 
respond to the challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandemic in relation to the integrated health, 
trade and IP policy framework, including equitable access to COVID -19 health technologies, such as 
medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics.  
An integrated health, trade and IP approach to respond to the COVID -19 pandemic  
6.  WHO, WIPO, and WTO will soon launch an update of the information note in the Trilateral Study 
on "An Integrated Health, Trade and Intellectual Property Approach to Respond to the COVID -19 
Pandemic ". The text maps the challenges posed by the COVID -19 pandem ic in relation to the 
integrated health, trade and intellectual property policy framework set out in the second edition of 
the Trilateral Study on Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation.4 The update 
contains developments up until 30 Augus t 2021, including on the impact of COVID -19 on health 
systems and responses at the global level, policy challenges, meeting the demand for health 
technologies and medical services, international trade, intellectual property aspects, international 
initiativ es to support research and development and equitable access, regulatory responses, 
transparency and mapping the way forward.  
COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP) 
7.  In May 2020, the WHO COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP) was launched by WHO, in 
partne rship with the Government of Costa Rica, under a global Solidarity Call to Action endorsed by 
nearly 40 Member States.5 C-TAP provides a platform for developers of COVID -19 therapeutics, 
diagnostics, vaccines and other health products to voluntarily share  their intellectual property, 
knowledge, and data, with multiple quality -assured manufacturers. This enables manufacturers that 
currently have untapped capacity to produce COVID -19 health products by giving them the legal 
rights to manufacture and sell the  products; the technological know -how required to develop 
high-quality products effectively and efficiently; and access to clinical data needed to obtain 
regulatory approval for their products.  
8.  C-TAP has been monitoring the patent and licensing status info rmation and access challenges of 
vaccines, therapeutics, and in vitro diagnostics prioritized by WHO6,7, vaccines in the COVID -19 
vaccine tracker and landscape8, diagnostics in the FIND COVID -19 Test Directory9, and therapeutics 
in the Therapeutics  and COVID -19: living guideline .10 C-TAP and its implementing partners have 
engaged COVID -19 vaccine, diagnostic, and therapeutic technology holders in bilateral discussions. 
On 28 May 2021 during a special press conference to mark the first anniversary of C-TAP, the 
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) announced its intention to make its COVID -19 serological 
test technology available to C -TAP. C -TAP has held consultations and bilateral meetings with key 
stakeholders, including but not limited to, pri vate sector, civil society organizations, international 
 
3 https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA7 4/A74_R6 -en.pdf  
4 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240008267  
5 https://www.who.int/initiatives/ covid-19-technology -access -pool 
6 https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/document s/Status_of_COVID -
19_Vaccines_within_WHO_EUL -PQ_evaluation_process -16June2021_Final.pdf  
7 https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/210318_eul_covid19_ivd_update.pdf  
8 https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft -landscape -of-covid-19-candidate -vaccines  
9 https://www.finddx.org/test -directory/  
10 https://www.who.int/publications/i/it em/WHO -2019-nCoV-therapeutics -2021.2  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  organizations, universities, national and regional research institutes, technology transfer offices, and 
technology seekers.  
9.  Among such meetings, the UK Government, working through the UK Intellectual  Property Office, 
and WHO held a joint seminar on C -TAP to hear views and suggestions on how C -TAP can promote 
the detection, prevention and treatment of COVID -19. During the 14 January 2021 private sector 
consultation, WIPO Assistant Director General of I ntellectual Property and Innovation Ecosystems 
participated as a speaker in the panel discussion on voluntary licensing and patent pooling.11 More 
information on consultations and events is available on the C -TAP events webpage. C -TAP also 
engages with W HO Member States to implement the Solidarity Call to Action and create an enabling 
environment to encourage sharing through C -TAP. 
10.  For example, an online Member States questionnaire is being conducted on national and regional 
incentives to facilitate scale  up and access to COVID -19 health technologies, including vaccines, 
diagnostics, and therapeutics. WHO has been interacting with other key stakeholders, including 
COVID -19 research and development funders, international organizations, research institutes, 
academia and civil society, and technology seekers, to support C -TAP's goals and objectives. C -TAP 
has also been actively engaged in catalysing synergies with other global initiatives such as the 
COVID -19 Vaccines Global Access initiative (COVAX), the Acce ss to COVID -19 Tools Accelerator 
(ACT-A), and the WHO COVID -19 mRNA vaccine  manufacturing taskforce.  
11.  ACT-A is a collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable global access 
to new COVID -19 essential health technologies. ACT -A is orga nized around four main pillars of work: 
diagnostics, treatment, vaccines and a cross -cutting pillar on health systems strengthening. As of 
19 July 2021, COVAX, the vaccines pillar of ACT -A, has shipped more than 129 million vaccines to 
more than 136 econom ies. Major achievements of the diagnostics pillar include procurement of over 
27 million molecular tests and 12 million rapid antigen tests for low - and middle -income countries. 
WHO and partners established the COVAX Manufacturing Task Force as a proposed pathway to 
increasing supply and ensuring regional health security.  
12.  The Task Force aims to increase immediate supply (three to six months) for existing vaccines, 
ensure vaccines coming onto market can be produced at maximum scale and not constrained by 
existing contracts, enable low - and middle -income countries to acquire COVID -19 vaccine production 
technology and establish sustainable outbreak response capacity for regional health security. As part 
of the task force, WHO established in April 2021 a COVID -19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub 
to scale up global manufacturing. WHO and its COVAX partners are working with a South African 
consortium to establish first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.  Future hubs for other 
technologies, such as viral  vectors and proteins, are foreseen. The WTO Secretariat is actively 
contributing to the workstreams of the COVAX Manufacturing Task Force.  
WTO-WHO High Level Dialogue: Expanding COVID -19 Vaccine Manufacture to Promote Equitable 
Access  
13.  On 21 July 2021, WTO  and WHO co -hosted a high -level dialogue on expanding COVID -19 
vaccine manufacture to promote equitable access. The dialogue brought together representatives 
from vaccine manufacturers, governments, public health advocacy groups, and development finance 
institutions. The Directors -Generals of the WHO, WIPO, and WTO offered opening remarks.12 The 
remainder of the dialogue took place under Chatham House Rules. WHO Director -General, 
Dr Tedros  Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called on funders and industry to facilitate voluntary, transparent 
and non -exclusive licensing of patents, transfer of know -how and data through the COVID -19 
Technology Access Pool (C -TAP).   
Fair Pricing Forum 2021  
14.  From 13 -22 April 2021, WHO hosted the third Fair Pricing Forum with support from the Ministry 
of Health of Argentina.13 The virtual forum focused on improving access to medicines and health 
 
11 https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who -covid-19-technology -access -pool-(c-tap)-private-
sector -consultation  
12 https://www.who.int /director -general/speeches/detail/who -director -general -s-opening -remarks -at-
the-wto---who-high-level-dialogue -expanding -covid-19-vaccine -manufacture -to-promote -equitable -access  
13 https://www.who.int/news/item/23 -04-2021-fair-pricing -forum -ends-with-good-intentions -and-new-
undertakings -from-who IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  products through fair pricing and follows previous events held in the Netherlands in 2017 
(10-11 May) and in South Africa in 2019 (11 -13 April). The Forum brought together representativ es 
from Member States and relevant stakeholders from civil society, academia, private health sector 
and UN  agencies with the aim of 1) sharing countries ' experiences, including from the COVID -19 
pandemic, in ensuring affordability and transparency of price s and costs of health products; 
2) advancing discussion and knowledge on approaches and system factors pertaining to the pricing 
and R&D of pharmaceutical products for enhancing affordability, transparency, and innovation, and 
achieving health sustainable development goals; and 3) activating additional support for countries 
to achieve more affordable and fairer access to pharmaceutical products during the COVID -19 
pandemic and beyond.  
15.  On 21 April 2021, a plenary session titled "Moving towards fair prices by  public health -driven 
application and management of Intellectual Property " was held to encourage the application and 
management of intellectual property in a manner that maximizes health -related innovation and 
promotes access to health products and that it  is consistent with the provisions in the 
TRIPS  Agreement and other WTO instruments. The objectives of the session were to 1) facilitate an 
open exchange on the recent initiatives related to the application and management of IP to promote 
equitable access to health technologies, particularly during extreme situations, 2) promote a better 
understanding of how different initiatives could support the achievement of the same goal, and, 
3) understand how intellectual property laws and policies could be implement ed in a manner that 
maximizes public health -driven research and development and equitable access for all. The session 
featured, among others, speakers from the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and 
Competition Division of WTO, the Medicines Pat ent Pool, the International Federation of 
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, and the South African Permanent Mission to the 
World  Trade Organization.   
COVID -19 and Vaccine Equity: What can the WTO Contribute?  
16.  On 14 April 2021, WTO organized a mee ting among governments, vaccine manufacturers, civil 
society and international organizations which aimed to serve as the basis for dialogue aimed at 
delivering results in terms of increased vaccine production volumes in the short -term as well as 
longer -term investments in vaccine production and enhancing the trading system 's contribution to 
pandemic preparedness.  Among the speakers, WHO Director -General delivered remarks and 
outlined three ways in which WHO believes vaccine equity obstacles can be overcome,  production 
can be increased and lives can be saved.14 He called on companies to share know -how, intellectual 
property and data with other qualified vaccine manufacturers, including in low -and middle -income 
countries, and invited COVID -19 health technolo gy holders to share with the COVID -19 Technology 
Access Pool.  He also urged countries to strengthen their regulatory capacity and invest in local 
vaccine manufacturing.  
Task Force on COVID -19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries  
17.  On 30 June 2021, WHO and WTO along with the World Bank Group and the International 
Monetary Fund issued a joint statement following the first meeting of the Multilateral Leaders Task 
Force on COVID -19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics.15 The first m eeting of the task force 
addressed the urgency of increasing supplies of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for 
developing countries, including practical and effective ways to track, coordinate and advance delivery 
of COVID -19 vaccines to developing c ountries. The joint statement called on G20 countries to take 
action to 1) embrace the target of at least 40% in every country by end -2021, and at least 60% by 
the first half of 2022, (2)  share more vaccine doses now, including by ensuring at least 1 billi on 
doses are shared with developing countries in 2021 starting immediately, (3) provide financing, 
including grants and concessional financing, to close the residual gaps, including for the 
ACT-Accelerator, and (4) remove all barriers to export of inputs a nd finished vaccines, and other 
barriers to supply chain operations.  
 
14 https://www.who.int/director -general/speeches/detail/covid -19-and-vaccine -equity -panel -what-can-
the-world -trade -organization -contribute  
15 https://www.who.int/news/item/30 -06-2021-first-meeting -of-the-task-force-on-covid-19-vaccines -
therapeutics -and-diagnostics -for-developing -countries  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  Intensified cooperation in support of access to medical technologies worldwide to tackle the 
COVID -19 pandemic  
18.  On June 15, 2021, the Directors General of WHO, WIPO and the WTO met in a sp irit of 
cooperation and solidarity to map out further collaboration to tackle the COVID -19 pandemic and 
the pressing global challenges at the intersection of public health, intellectual property and trade.16 
The three Directors -General agreed to further build on the long -standing WHO -WIPO -WTO Trilateral 
Cooperation which aims to support and assist all countries as they seek to assess and implement 
sustainable and integrated solutions to public health challenges. The organizations agreed to 
enhance and foc us their joint support in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic through two specific 
initiatives. The trilateral organizations will collaborate on the organization of practical, 
capacity -building workshops to enhance the flow of updated information on curre nt developments 
in the pandemic and responses to achieve equitable access to COVID -19 health technologies. 
Furthermore, the three organizations will implement a joint platform for tripartite technical 
assistance to countries relating to their needs for COV ID-19 medical technologies, providing a 
one-stop shop that will make available the full range of expertise on access, intellectual property 
and trade matters in a coordinated and systematic manner.  
World Local Production Forum: Enhancing access to medicine s and other health technologies  
19.  From 21 -25 June 2021, WHO, with the support of Member States and partners, organized the 
first virtual World Local Production Forum (WLPF).17 The WLPF is a regular forum for the global 
community comprising foremost governm ent leaders, technology experts, representatives of 
industry associations, the international community and other stakeholders under the auspices of 
WHO, and the co -host of Ethiopia,   for public health impact. The first WLPF provided a global arena 
to stimu late 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. The first WLPF aimed to call Memb er States ' attention in aligning 
the production of health products as essential long -term infrastructure to protect national, regional 
and global security. It also aimed to transform the spirit of the first interagency statement on 
promoting local producti on into practice. The objectives of the Forum included: 1)   to 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 s afeguard 
global, regional and national health security, 2) to identify priority health technologies with greatest 
need for transfer to LMICs to address challenges like shortages, high prices and monopolies, 3)   to 
explore mechanisms and opportunities to pr omote/facilitate the transfer and local production of high 
priority technologies in LMICs, 4) to identify key areas of training that support capacity -building for 
local production and technology transfer, 5) to promote partnerships and business linkages in the 
areas of technology transfer and local production, 6) to provide recommendations and actions for 
implementation by stakeholders.  
COVID -19 Vaccine Supply Chain and Regulatory Transparency Symposium  
20.  On 29 June 2021, WTO hosted the COVID -19 Va ccine Supply Chain and Regulatory 
Transparency Symposium.18 The technical symposium was opened with remarks from the Deputy 
Director -General, WTO, the Assistant Director -General, WHO, and the Deputy Secretary -General, 
World Customs Organization. The even t featured the following sessions: Mapping vaccine 
manufacturing and trade; Mapping cross -border movement of vaccine inputs; Promoting 
transparency and convergence in the regulatory landscape, and; Beyond vaccines: mapping other 
COVID -19 essential health t echnologies and trade. The symposium closed with remarks from the 
Deputy Director -General, WTO.  
Training and Enhancing Capacity WTO Technical Workshop Organized by the WTO Secretariat with 
the cooperation of the WHO and WIPO Secretariats  
21.  On 21 October 2020 , the WTO Secretariat, with the cooperation of the Secretariats of WHO and 
WIPO, organized a technical workshop titled "An Integrated Health, Trade and Intellectual Property 
 
16 https://www.who.int/news/ite m/24 -06-2021-directors -general -of-who-wipo-and-the-wto-agree -on-
intensified -cooperation -in-support -of-access -to-medical -technologies -worldwide -to-tackle -the-covid-19-
pandemic  
17 https://www.who.int/initiatives/world -local-production -forum  
18 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/technical_symposium_2906_e.htm  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  Approach to Address the COVID -19 Pandemic. "19 The workshop was intended for poli cymakers and 
aimed at building capacity to assess domestic health systems, intellectual property regimes and 
trade policy settings to use these tools effectively in an integrated and coherent way to respond to 
the pandemic. WHO presented an overview of hea lth challenges posed by the pandemic, discussed 
the importance of ensuring transparency in accordance with IHR 2005, outlined regulatory 
challenges, approval of vaccines and repurposed medicines, the solidarity clinical trials, the WHO 
procedure for emerge ncy use listing, presented on procurement of medicines/vaccines, and 
delineated an overview of key initiatives to promote public health, development of new products, as 
well as an effective response to the pandemic, including the WHO Access to COVID -19 Too ls 
Accelerator (ACT -A), WHO Resolution WHA73.1 on the COVID -19 response, the Solidarity Call to 
Action and the COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP), and COVID -19 Vaccines Global Access 
(COVAX).   
Virtual Sub -regional Meeting on Public Health for Selected  Arab Countries  
22.  On 30 November 2020 and 1 December 2020, WIPO hosted a Virtual Sub -regional meeting on 
Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health for selected Arab Countries.20 The event was 
organized by WIPO in cooperation with the Egyptian Pat ent Office (EgPO), WTO and WHO. WHO 
participated in a roundtable discussion on Mapping the interface between health, trade and 
intellectual property – key issues, and provided comments on The WTO TRIPS Agreement and public 
health. A representative from the  WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) 
presented on The regional public health context: overview and determinants for access. WHO also 
provided comments to The patent system International framework, implementation, flexibility; 
patentability criteria; patent examination; exceptions and limitations (scientific research exception; 
regulatory review exception, exhaustion, compulsory and government use licenses); pre - and post -
grant opposition; patent information. A WHO Headquarters re presentative presented on Health 
regulation and substandard and falsified health technologies and WHO also provided comments 
Health -related provisions in bilateral and regional trade agreements.   
WTO Virtual Workshop on the Implementation of Article 66.2 o f the TRIPS Agreement: Incentives 
for Technology Transfer to least developed countries (LDCs)  
23.  From 2 -4 and 10 March 2021, WTO hosted a virtual workshop on incentives for technology 
transfer to least developed countries (LDCs) under the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).21 The aim of the workshop was 1) to facilitate communication 
between LDC members and developed country members 2) to promote the effective implementation 
of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement on te chnology transfer to LDCs and 3) to enable LDCs to 
create a sound and viable technological base essential for addressing current and future challenges. 
WHO participated in Theme I of the workshop on technology transfer in the area of health 
technologies. T he WHO representative highlighted relevant recommendations prioritized by the WHO 
overall programme review panel of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, 
Innovation and Intellectual Property (GSPA -PHI), including recommendation 14 which recommend 
that the WHO Secretariat work with the Secretariat of WTO to identify how Article 66(2) of the 
TRIPS  Agreement could be implemented more effectively in relation to health technology transfer in 
countries. Recommendation 15 of the review panel cal ls on the WHO Secretariat to identify new 
opportunities for collaboration with other United Nations organizations (e.g. UNIDO, UNCTAD) to 
promote technology transfer as part of local health technology production programmes in developing 
countries in line w ith country needs.  
Health, IP and Trade Workshop for ECOWAS Member States   
24.  On 22 -23 March and 29 March 2021, WTO and the Economic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS) Commission, in collaboration with WHO and WIPO, organized a three -day virtual 
workshop on health, intellectual property and trade policy -making for ECOWAS member states and 
the ECOWAS Commission.22 WHO participated in a roundtable discussion on Mapping the Interface 
between Health, Trade and Intellectual Property as well as on An Integrated Health, Trade and IP 
Approach to respond to the COVID -19 pandemic. WHO representatives presented the public health 
context -overview of the regional public health context and provided comments to the sessions on 
The Role of IPRs in Innovation and  Access to Health Technologies, The TRIPS Agreement and the 
 
19 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/heal_21oct20_e.htm  
20 https://www.wipo.int/tad/en/activitydetai ls.jsp?id=21752  
21 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/tech_18mar21_e.htm  
22 https://www.wto .org/english/news_e/news21_e/heal_29mar21_e.htm  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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  Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, and The International Patent System 
and Domestic Implementation Issues. WHO also presented on Government Procurement, Regulation 
of Healt h Technologies, Substandard/Falsified Medical Products, and Health -Related Provisions in 
Regional Trade Agreements.   
Trade and Public Health Virtual Course with a Special Focus on the COVID -19 Pandemic  
25.  From 3 May to 11 June 2021, WTO, in collaboration with  WHO and WIPO, hosted its first Virtual 
Course on Trade and Public Health, which focused on the COVID -19 pandemic.23 The five -week 
virtual course brought together government officials and technical experts from across the world 
working on health, intelle ctual property and trade policy issues. WHO provided participants with a 
technical refresher on health, including data, factual information and terminology and also 
participated in a moderated forum on the technical dimensions of health, trade and intellec tual 
property. WHO also participated in a moderated forum on the innovation dimension and presented 
on health -system related determinants related to access. WHO briefed participants on procurement 
rules and practices, including a review of responses during  the pandemic, and presented during a 
public webinar on regulatory cooperation during the COVID -19 pandemic. WHO experts also updated 
on approval, quality control and effectiveness of medicines, including falsified and substandard as 
well as counterfeit me dicines.  
_______________  
 
 
 
23 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/heal_03may21_e.htm   
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
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Name of programme or project  Virtual Sub -regional Meeting on Public Health for Selected Arab Countries  
Date and end date  30 November 2020 - 1 December 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Algeria; Kingdom of Bahrain; Egypt; Iraq; Jordan; the State of Kuwait; Lebanese Republic; Mauritania; Morocco; 
Oman; Qatar; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Sudan ; Syrian Arab Republic; Tunisia; United Arab Emirates  
Brief description  WIPO hosted a Virtual Sub -regional meeting on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health for selected 
Arab Countries. The event was organized by WIPO in cooperation with the Egyptian Patent Office (EgPO), WTO 
and WHO. WHO participated in a roundta ble discussion on Mapping the interface between health, trade and 
intellectual property – key issues, and provided comments on The WTO TRIPS Agreement and public health.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Selected Arab countries  
Technical cooperation p rovider(s)  WIPO in cooperation with the Egyptian Patent Office (EgPO), WTO and WHO  
Outputs or impact   
Website for further information  https://www.wipo.int/tad/en/activitydetails.jsp?id=21752  
Contact point for further information   
 
 
1 In English only.   
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 9 - Name of programme or project  WTO Technical Workshop Organized by the WTO Secretariat with the cooperation of the WHO and 
WIPO Secretariats  
Date and end date 21 October 2020 - 21 October 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; 
Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina 
Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; 
Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d 'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; 
Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El 
Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Estonia; Eswatini ; Ethiopia; European Union; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The 
Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; 
Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; It aly; Jamaica; 
Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People 's 
Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lebanese Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; 
Macao, China; Madagascar; M alawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of 
Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; 
Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Pa nama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; 
Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint 
Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; 
Serbia;  Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; 
South Sudan; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and  Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; 
Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United 
Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Vene zuela; Viet Nam; 
Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  The WTO Secretariat, with the cooperation of the Secretariats of WHO and WIPO, organized a technical workshop 
titled "An Integrated Health, Trade and Intellectual Property Approach to Address the COVID -19 Pandemic. " 
Beneficiary institution or audience  Policymakers  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WIPO, WTO  
Outputs or impact  The workshop aimed at building capacity to assess domestic health systems, intellectual property regimes and 
trade policy settings to use these tools effectively in an integrated and coherent way to respond to the pandemic.  
Website for further information  https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/heal_21oct20_e.htm  
Contact point for further information  CallToA ction@who.int  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 10 - Name of programme or project  Task Force on COVID -19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics for Developing Countries  
Date and end date  30 June 2021 - 30 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahamas; 
Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia 
and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Burkina Faso; Burun di; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; 
Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d 'Ivoire; 
Cuba; Curaçao; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El 
Salvador; Equ atorial Guinea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; The Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; 
Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; 
Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People 's 
Democratic Republic; Lebanese Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; 
Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocc o; 
Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; 
Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint 
Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadin es; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; 
Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; 
Sudan; Suriname; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan , Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 
Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Uganda; 
Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; 
Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  WHO and WTO along with the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund issued a joint statement 
following the first meeting of the Task Force on COVID -19 Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics. The first 
meeting of the task force addressed the urg ency of increasing supplies of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics 
for developing countries, including practical and effective ways to track, coordinate and advance delivery of 
COVID -19 vaccines to developing countries.  
Beneficiary institution or aud ience  WTO, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WHO hosted training workshop  
Outputs or impact  Joint statement by WHO, WTO, World Bank Group, and the International Monetary Fund called on G20 countries 
to take action to 1) embrace the target of at least 40 % in every country by end -2021, and at least 60 % by the 
first half of 2022, (2) share more vaccine doses now, including by ensuring at least  1 billion doses are shared 
with developing countries in 2021 st arting immediately, (3) provide financing, including grants and concessional 
financing, to close the residual gaps, including for the ACT -Accelerator, and (4) remove all barriers to export of 
inputs and finished vaccines, and other barriers to supply chain  operations.  
Website for further information  https://www.who.int/news/item/30 -06-2021-first-meeting -of-the-task-force-on-covid-19-vaccines -
therapeutics -and-diagnostics -for-developing -countries  
Contact point for further information   
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 11 - Name of programme or project  Fair Pricing Forum 2021  
Date and end date  13 April 2021 - 22 April 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; 
Azerbaijan; Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; 
Plurinational State of Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina 
Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African Republic; Chad; Chile; China; 
Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Cos ta Rica; Côte d 'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Democratic 
Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; 
Equatorial Guinea; Estonia; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The  Gambia; Georgia; Germany; 
Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; 
India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of 
Korea; the State of  Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People 's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lebanese Republic; 
Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; 
Malta; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; M ongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; 
Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; 
Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; 
Russia n Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; 
Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak 
Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; So uth Africa; South Sudan; Spain; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; 
Sweden; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and 
Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisi a; Turkey; 
Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; 
Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  The virtual forum focused on improving access  to medicines and health products through fair pricing and follows 
previous events held in the Netherlands in 2017 (10 –11 May) and in South Africa in 2019 (11 -13 April).  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Representatives from Member States and relevant stakeholders from civil society, academia, private health sector 
and UN agencies  
Technical cooperation provider(s)   
Outputs or impact  1) sharing countries ' experiences, including from the COVID -19 pandemic, in ensuring affordability and 
transparency of prices and costs of health products;  
2) advancing discussion and knowledge on approaches and system factors pertaining to the pricing and R&D of 
pharmaceutical products for enhancing affordability, transparency, and innovation, and achieving health 
sustai nable development goals, and  
3) activating additional support for countries to achieve more affordable and fairer access to pharmaceutical 
products during the COVID -19 pandemic and beyond.  
Website for further information  https://www.who.int/news -room/events/detail/2021/04/13/default -calendar/fair -pricing -forum -2021 
Contact point for further information  IPD@wto.org  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 12 - Name of programme or project  WTO -WHO High Level Dialogue: Expanding COVID -19 Vaccine Manufacture to Promote Equitable 
Access  
Date and end date  21 July 2021 - 21 July 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)   
Brief description  WTO and WHO co -hosted a high -level dialogue on expanding COVID -19 vaccine manufacture to promote equitable 
access. The dialogue brought together representatives from vaccine manufacturers, governments, public health 
advocacy groups, and development finance  institutions.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Selected representatives from vaccine manufacturers, governments, public health advocacy groups, and 
development finance institutions  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WTO 
Outputs or impact   
Website f or further information  https://w ww.who.int/director -general/speeches/detail/who -director -general -s-opening -remarks -at-the-wto---
who-high-level-dialogue -expanding -covid-19-vaccine -manufacture -to-promote -equitable -access  
Contact point for further information  gspoa@who.int  
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 13 - Name of programme or project  COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP)  
Date and end date  29 May 2020  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; Kingdom of Bahrain; 
Bangladesh; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei 
Darussalam; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Canada; Central African 
Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Congo; Costa Rica; Côte d 'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Cyprus; Czech 
Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denmark; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; 
El Salvador; Estonia; Eswatini; Euro pean Union; Fiji; Finland; France; Gabon; The Gambia; Georgia; Germany; 
Ghana; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; 
Hungary; Iceland; India; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan;  Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic 
of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People 's Democratic Republic; Latvia; Lesotho; Liberia; 
Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; Maldives; Mali; Malta; 
Mauritania; Ma uritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; 
Namibia; Nepal; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; 
Pakistan; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; P oland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian 
Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Sou th 
Africa; Spain; Sri Lanka; Suriname; Sweden; Switzerland; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Uganda; 
Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United  Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Bolivarian 
Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  In May 2020, the WHO COVID -19 Technology Access Pool (C -TAP)  was launched by WHO, in partnership with 
the Governme nt of Costa Rica, under a global Solidarity Call to Action endorsed by nearly 40 Member States. C -
TAP provides a platform for developers of COVID -19 therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines and other health products 
to voluntarily share their intellectual prope rty, knowledge, and data, with multiple quality -assured manufacturers. 
This enables manufacturers that currently have untapped capacity to produce COVID -19 health products by giving 
them the legal rights to manufacture and sell the products; the technologi cal know -how required to develop high -
quality products effectively and efficiently; and access to clinical data needed to obtain regulatory approval for 
their products.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Holders of knowledge, intellectual property or dat a to existing or new therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines, 
governments, research and development funders, researchers, Patients and communities, inter -governmental, 
non-governmental and civil society organizations, other stakeholders  
Technical cooperati on provider(s)  Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Crafts and the Yolsé Association  
Outputs or impact  C-TAP has engaged technology holders in bilateral discussions, and on 28 May 2021 during a special press 
conference to m ark the first anniversary of C -TAP, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) announced its 
intention to make its COVID -19 serological test technology available to C -TAP.  
Website for further information  https://www.who.int/initiatives/covid -19-technology -access -pool 
Contact point for further information   
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 14 - Name of programme or project  WTO Virtual Workshop on the Imp lementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement: Incentives for 
Technology Transfer to least developed countries (LDCs)  
Date and end date  2 March 2021 - 10 March 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Central African Republic; 
Chad; Comoros; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Ethiopia; The Gambia; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; 
Haiti; Lao People 's Democratic Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; 
Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Rwanda; Sao Tomé and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Somalia; 
South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Timor -Leste; Togo; Uganda; Vanuatu; Yemen; Zambia  
Brief description  WTO hosted a virtual workshop on incentives for technology transfer to least -developed countries (LDCs) under 
the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).  
Beneficiary institution or audience  Least -developed countries  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WTO 
Outputs or impact  The aim of the workshop was 1) to facilitate communication between LDC members and developed country 
members 2) to promote the effective implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement on technology 
transfer to LDCs and 3) to enable LDCs to create a sound and viable technological base essential for addressing 
current and future challenges.  
Website for further information  https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news 21_e/tech_18mar21_e.htm   
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA71/A71_13 -en.pdf?ua=1  
Contact point for further information   
 
Name of programme or project  Health, IP and Trade Workshop for ECOWAS Member States  
Date and end date  22 March 2021 - 29 March 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Benin; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Côte d 'Ivoire; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Liberia; Mali; 
Niger; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Togo  
Brief description  WTO and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, in collaboration with WHO and 
WIPO, organized a three -day virtual workshop on health, intellectual property and trade policy -making for 
ECOWAS member states and the ECOWAS Commission.  
Beneficiary institution or audience  West African Economic Community (ECOWAS)  
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WTO and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commiss ion in collaboration with WHO and 
WIPO  
Outputs or impact   
Website for further information  https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/heal_29mar21_e.htm  
Contact point for further information   
  
  IP/C/R/TC/WHO/2  
 
- 15 - Name of programme or project  Trade and Public Health Virtual C ourse with a Special Focus on the COVID -19 Pandemic  
Date and end date  3 May 2021 - 11 June 2021  
Beneficiary Member(s) or observer(s)  Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; Azerbaijan; 
Bahamas; Kingdom of Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Plurinational State of 
Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; 
Cambodia; Cameroon; Central Afric an Republic; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo; Costa Rica; 
Côte d 'Ivoire; Cuba; Curaçao; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; 
Ecuador; Egypt; El Salvador; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; The Gambia; Georgia ; Ghana; Grenada; Guatemala; 
Guinea; Guinea -Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; 
Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Republic of Korea; the State of Kuwait; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People 's 
Democratic Republ ic; Lebanese Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Macao, China; Madagascar; Malawi; Malaysia; 
Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Morocco; 
Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; N orth Macedonia; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; 
Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint 
Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tomé and Principe; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Senegal; 
Serbia; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; 
Sudan; Suriname; Syrian Arab Republic; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; 
Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor -Leste; Togo; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; 
Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uruguay; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet 
Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe  
Brief description  WTO, in collaboration with WHO  and WIPO, hosted its first Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health, which 
focused on the COVID -19 pandemic. The five -week virtual course brought together government officials and 
technical experts from across the world working on health, intellectual pr operty and trade policy issues. WHO 
provided participants with a technical refresher on health, including data, factual information and terminology 
and also participated in a moderated forum on the technical dimensions of health, trade and intellectual pro perty 
dimensions.  
Beneficiary institution or audience   
Technical cooperation provider(s)  WTO, in collaboration with WHO and WIPO  
Outputs or impact   
Website for further information  https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/heal_03may21_e.htm  
Contact point for further information   
 
 
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