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The 2017 workshop will be the latest in a series of activities taking a holistic approach to the interlinkages between trade and public health. It builds on similar training activities held since 2014 as well as on earlier workshops on intellectual property and public health that had been convened by the WTO Secretariat since 2005.

The workshop follows the approach of the WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral Study on “Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections Between Public health, Intellectual Property and Trade”.

What is the workshop about?

The main objective of the Workshop on Trade and Public Health is to build the capacity of national policymakers to analyse policy choices in the area of intersection between trade, intellectual property and public health. It will, in particular, review multilateral trade agreements as part of the wider action to address needs specific to public health, and will place them in the context of the broader factors that impact on innovation and access to medical technologies.

Key features of this year’s programme include: public health determinants; the intellectual property system, including special compulsory licences for export; public procurement policies and practices; competition policy and rules; trade facilitation; health services; health-related provisions in regional trade agreements; regulatory issues, including approval, quality, control and effectiveness of medicines and the protection of clinical trial data; as well as health-related measures in the framework of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Committee.

This will be complemented by breakout sessions on 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 tailored for senior government officials from eligible WTO members and observers with direct responsibility for matters related to the interaction between trade, intellectual property and public health, with an expectation to continue working or being assigned further responsibilities in this field.

Candidates should have established expertise and experience in their field of work, a good level of knowledge of the WTO agreements and public health policy and all-round proficiency in English, the working language of the workshop.

They can come 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.

How to apply?

WTO members and observers eligible to benefit from WTO training activities are invited to submit nominations of capital-based officials at the latest by 30 June 2017. Interested candidates may access the application form here.

All applications must be signed by the applicant and the nominating national authority. They can only be submitted via the permanent mission/embassy to the WTO.

The WTO Secretariat can provide funding for a maximum of 30 participants who will be selected among the applicants. Provision will also be made for up to five self-funded participants, including from developed countries.

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