The 2nd Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Local Production and Technology Transfer (TAG-LPTT) concluded successfully, held from 5th to 6th March 2024 at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.
The meeting served as a pivotal platform for members of the TAG-LPTT to convene and engage in productive discussions on key topics to advancing local production and technology transfer to improve timely, equitable access for global public health.
Dr Yukiko Nakatani, Assistant Director-General of the Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, opened the meeting, emphasizing the importance of local production and technology transfer and the need for collaborative efforts to boost local production capabilities and promote access to essential medicines. Dr Jicui Dong, Unit Head of the Local Production and Assistance (LPA) Unit and Head of the TAG-LPTT Secretariat, set the stage for the discussions for the two-day meeting for open dialogue and consensus-building among the technical advisory group members.
The meeting encompassed a range of critical topics, including reflections on the experiences from the 2nd World Local Production Forum (WLPF), an open discussion and recommendations for the planning of the 3rd WLPF, and technical advice for supporting countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with ecosystem assessments using a situational analysis tool developed by the LPA Unit to identify gaps and enable prioritization of actions to build conducive ecosystems for sustainable quality local production. The meeting concluded with an insightful session on the WHO Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative, an initiative that will support countries, particularly LMICs, to enhance workforce capacity in biomanufacturing with a comprehensive range of trainings to address global health challenges. The initiative is coordinated and managed by Dr Jicui Dong, on behalf of the Access to Medicines and Health Products (MHP) Division, with close collaboration from the WHO Academy and WHO Science Division.
Capping off two days of productive discussions, Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, Director of the Regulation and Prequalification Department at the WHO-HQ, delivered the closing remarks with appreciation to the TAG-LPTT members for their active participation and valuable contributions to the meeting.
TAG-LPTT group picture with (from left to right): Dr Jicui Dong, Professor Sudip Chaudhuri, Mr Messay Wolde-Mariam, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, Professor Frederick Abbott, Ms Engy ElHosary, Dr Matthew Downham, Dr Foluke Olusegun, Dr Ming Xu.
TAG-LPTT during the 2nd meeting held from 5th to 6th March 2024 at the WHO headquarters in Geneva
TAG-LPTT group picture (from left to right): Mr Ian Dalton, Dr Matthew Downham, Dr Rogerio Gaspar, Dr Jicui Dong, Professor Frederick Abbott, Ms Engy ElHosary, Dr Foluke Olusegun, Mr Messay Wolde-Mariam, Professor Sudip Chaudhuri, Dr Ming Xu.
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