The workshop builds on similar training activities held in November 2014 and October 2015 at the WTO, as well as on earlier workshops on Intellectual Property and Public Health that had been organized by the WTO Secretariat since 2005. It broadly follows the approach developed in the WHO-WIPO-WTO trilateral study “Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections Between Public Health, Intellectual Property and Trade”.

 

What the workshop is offering

The Workshop aims at building national decision-makers’ capacity to analyse policy choices in the area of intersection between trade, intellectual property (IP) and public health, based on a comprehensive understanding of overlapping policy issues with bearing on public health, and an analysis of their relationship with multilateral trade agreements. It will review the system of multilateral trade agreements as part of the wider action to address needs specific to public health, and will set this system in the context of the broader factors that impact on innovation and access to pharmaceuticals and medical technologies.

Key features on this year’s programme are: public health determinants; the IP system, including special compulsory licences for export as a procurement tool for medicines; and trade-related access determinants, such as procurement policies and practices, competition policy and rules, the Trade Facilitation Agreement, as well as health services and health-related provisions in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs). Regulatory issues, including approval, quality control and effectiveness of medicines, the protection of clinical trial data under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, as well as health-related measures in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) Committees also take a prominent place on the programme. This will be complemented by a series of discussions dedicated to specific, cross-cutting themes linking trade agreements to topical issues, such as non-communicable diseases and human rights. Exercises and case studies will set these issues in a practical context.

 

Who should apply

The workshop is intended for a maximum of 27 selected senior government officials from developing countries who already have a high level practical understanding of some aspects of trade, IP and health policy, and who have continuing responsibilities for assessing and implementing trade and IP policy options that relate to public health matters.

Applications can only be received from officials who are formally nominated by their national government, and applications must be passed through the Permanent Mission/Embassy representing their government to the WTO. Provision will also be made for up to five additional applicants, including from developed countries, to participate in the workshop at their own expense.

To be considered in the selection process, candidates should possess at least the following qualifications and background:

• direct responsibility for matters relating to the interaction between trade agreements and public health, whether from authorities dealing with foreign affairs, trade, intellectual property, public health or any other relevant department assuming responsibilities regarding the interface between trade agreements and public health;

• the definite expectation of continuing to work, or being assigned responsibilities, specifically in this field;

• established expertise and experience in this area, and a good level of knowledge about trade law and policy, including, but not limited to, the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, and public health policy; and

• all-round proficiency in English, the working language of the workshop being English.

 

How to apply

WTO Members and Observers that are eligible to benefit from WTO training and technical cooperation activities have been invited to nominate capital-based officials for consideration and for possible selection for this programme at the latest by 22 July 2016.

Interested candidates can access the application form here. To be considered, an application form must be signed by the national authority which presents candidates and can only be submitted to the WTO via the Permanent Mission/Embassy to the WTO in Geneva.