FAQ - Health Technology Access Programme
- What makes HTAP unique?
- How does HTAP differ from C-TAP?
HTAP builds on the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool’s (C-TAP) foundation but introduces key improvements to make the model more effective and sustainable.
HTAP extends beyond COVID-19 to address future health emergencies and other priority diseases. Having carefully assessed the viability of technologies, it proactively engages technology holders and manufacturers to secure voluntary licenses rather than waiting for contributions. Through stronger partnerships, there is increased involvement across the entire value chain, ensuring that technology transfer is supported at every stage, from licensing to production scale-up and regulatory approval.
HTAP also encompasses regional R&D consortia and bilateral partnerships to translate research into products, where they do not already exist on the market.
HTAP is also more fully integrated with the global health access ecosystem, aligning with WHO programmes and partners. The programme also takes a differentiated approach to licensing, offering more tailored solutions based on the needs of each technology and recipient manufacturer. - What are the expected benefits of HTAP?
HTAP’s structured and proactive approach is set to deliver long-term benefits for technology holders and seekers alike. In the long term, HTAP aims to strengthen local production capacity, enabling low- and middle-income countries to provide their populations with sustainable access to products addressing the health challenges that affect them.
HTAP ensures continuous access to essential health technologies, beyond what is needed for pandemic response. It makes voluntary licensing more attractive to both technology holders and manufacturers by offering structured technology transfer, production support and opportunities for increases in revenues for all parties. Participating countries and companies are also more attractive prospects for investment, given WHO’s involvement.
The programme also leverages WHO’s expertise and global network, allowing it to help build a seamless technology transfer and local production and manufacturing ecosystem, ensuring licensing agreements and research and development result in real-world public health impact. - Why is HTAP focused on capacity building in LMICs?
Even though capacity building in LMICs will take time and resources, HTAP’s position is that sustainable pandemic preparedness relies on geographically diversified development and manufacturing capacity, using multipurpose technologies that can address the key health challenges LMICs face.
While technology transfer agreements, partner identification and transferring know-how are important components, HTAP is committed to ensuring that LMICs develop the capacity to develop, manufacture, and commercialize health products themselves. - How is the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) involved?
MPP is a key implementing partner of HTAP, having supported HTAP’s predecessor, COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP), and the mRNA Technology Transfer (mRNA TT) programme, which is now fully integrated with HTAP.
MPP brings operational agility, licensing expertise and intellectual property management experience.
HTAP will continue to strengthen and leverage MPP’s expertise in licensing, while expanding efforts across the full value chain. - What kinds of technologies does HTAP prioritize?
HTAP actively identifies and secures multipurpose technologies, such as mRNA, which can address global public health needs, have strong potential for sustainable local production in LMICs and where there is added value in HTAP’s involvement.
Having started on mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, HTAP is now working on other types of mRNA health products and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) technology that can be adapted for testing for several diseases. It also aims to expand into therapeutics and assistive technologies.
HTAP is focusing on health technology access gaps, which are not adequately addressed by others and where the chances of success are the greatest. HTAP operates with an understanding that licensing alone cannot ensure technology transfer and that sustainable production requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the whole access ecosystem.
HTAP can provide or facilitate support throughout the value chain, covering research and development, licensing, quality assurance, regulation, demand creation and more.
HTAP brings together a range of WHO programmes and external partners to provide the right support at each stage of production, from end-to-end and considering the wider ecosystem.
The programme utilizes the full range of what WHO offers, from policy and normative work to scientific expertise, from country and regional presence to global partnerships and convening power. WHO has long worked to address global inequities in access to health products through evidence-based policies, guidance, and standards, as well as through multilateral initiatives that promote technology sharing and global production capacity.
HTAP recognizes that success can only be achieved through effective partnerships and coordination, with stakeholders contributing based on their respective strengths and remits.