The World Local Production Forum: Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies (WLPF) is a WHO initiative that provides Member States and the global community with a regular platform to shape strategies, galvanize collective action, and foster partnerships on sustainable local production to improve timely and equitable access to quality assured health products.

Over the past 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. As a result, The significance of local production and technology transfer in ensuring equitable access to medicines and health technologies has gained increasing recognition. The WLPF serves as a platform to generate actionable recommendations and outcomes that support local production, with a focus on improving access to quality, safe, and effective health products, and strengthening global, regional, and national health security. It aims to emphasize the importance of health product production as a vital long-term infrastructure and promote the implementation of the resolution WHA74.6 and the first interagency statement on promoting local production which emphasize and recognize the need to strengthening local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access. 

The Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit serves as the WLPF Secretariat. The unprecedented global health crisis caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic has underscored the insufficiency of global manufacturing capacity in meeting the overwhelming health needs worldwide. In response, there is growing recognition of the need to geo-diversify health product manufacturing to enhance local and regional production capacity to address global health challenges while ensuring equitable access to lifesaving essential health products.

The inaugural WLPF was held virtually from 21 to 25 June 2021, featuring opening remarks from the WHO Director-General, leaders of other UN agencies, and ministers from Member States. Bringing together over 70 speakers and panelists, the forum welcomed delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from industry associations, financial institutions, civil society, UN agencies, and international partners. Discussions focused on critical topics for promoting sustainable local production during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, such as partnerships, regulatory systems, licensing and technology transfer, financing, vaccines, innovation, and the role of AI and digital technology. The forum concluded with three key recommendations to strengthen sustainable local production and improve access to quality-assured health products, with WHO announcing plans for the second WLPF to be hosted physically in the Netherlands.

The 2nd WLPF, held in The Hague from 6 to 8 November 2023, concluded with key recommendations to advance sustainable local production and equitable access to medicines and health technologies. Emphasizing voluntary technology transfers and regional partnerships, the forum identified six critical elements for robust ecosystems: regulatory systems, manufacturing capacity, access to capital, policy development, information availability, and early-stage R&D investment. Stakeholders were urged to sustain their engagement in implementing these recommendations to close gaps, enhance regional production viability, and promote global health equity and security.

The 3rd WLPF took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 7 to 9 April 2025, under the theme “Advancing Local Production for Health Equity, Global Health Security, and Sustainable Development.” Organized by the Local Production and Assistance Unit (LPA) in collaboration with the UAE, the forum emphasized the critical role of local production in fostering resilience, equity, and access to essential health products such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostics. Featuring over 30 plenary and panel discussions, it convened high-level representatives from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and academia, offering participants unique opportunities to forge partnerships, drive innovation, and shape the future of local production. Registration operated on a first-come, first-served basis, welcoming stakeholders from around the world to advance global health security and sustainable development.