Local Production

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are becoming increasingly interested in developing the local production of quality-assured medical products. LMICs view local production as a strategy to improve access to quality medical products, achieve universal health coverage, strengthen health security, and reach the health-related targets and broader development goals of the SDGs.

Local production can play a significant role towards the reliable supply of quality-assured, affordable health products. The LPA unit supports Member States in strengthening sustainable local production with setting strategies and roadmaps, conducting situational analyses for sustainable quality local production, building capacity of manufacturers, regulators and other stakeholders, and forging strategic partnerships and collaborations. The harmonized collaboration among the different parties can impact on the access to quality health products. 

Technology Transfer

Technology transfer is a broad concept encompassing education and training, direct investment, licensing, movement of people, supply of materials and equipment, and other elements. Technology transfer can build capacity for quality local production in a relatively short time and bring the supply of essential health products closer to the public health needs. 

Manufacturers, particularly in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), may face challenges in access to technology to build capacity. Technology transfer is a complex process that needs a holistic and collaborative approach. The LPA unit supports countries to facilitate technology transfer for local production with a focus on priority health products or technologies which have high public health impact, in collaboration with other WHO programmes. The LPA unit conducts landscape analyses on technology transfer for the local production of medical products, and continuously explores mechanisms to increase technology transfer and new opportunities for collaboration to promote technology transfer in developing countries in line with country needs.