Applications open for WTO workshop on public health, global trade, and intellectual property. The WTO, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), will hold its 6th annual Workshop on Trade and Public Health in Geneva from 11 to 15 November 2019.

Additionally, The goal of the workshop is to build the capacity of policymakers – to equip them with the knowledge. Also, tools, and skills critical to analyzing complex policy choices. Further,  at the crossroads of trade, intellectual property, and public health. The workshop will examine the role that multilateral trade agreements play as part of the wider action to meet increasingly urgent public health needs.

Moreover, The programme this year covers: public health determinants; the intellectual property system; pricing and procurement policies; competition policy and rules; tariffs, quotas and licensing; health services; and regulatory issues, including approval, quality control and effectiveness of medicines, the protection of clinical trial data under the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Agreement and health-related measures in the framework of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) committees.

Benefit

• The WTO Secretariat can fund a maximum of 30 participants. Provision will also be made for up to five self-funded participants.

Eligibility

• Senior government officials who want to enhance their technical knowledge. Also, policymaking expertise at the intersections of public health, intellectual property and trade are to apply.
• Specifically, this workshop is designed for senior government officials who make, assess and implement the trade.  Also,  IP policy options that impact public health. Candidates must have established expertise and experience in their fields of work, a good level of knowledge of the WTO agreements and public health policy and all-around proficiency in English, the working language of the workshop.
• Government officials from authorities responsible for trade, intellectual property, public health, also, foreign affairs or any other relevant authority in the interface between trade agreements and public health are welcome to apply.