Designed in the spirit of the 2020 edition of the WHO-WIPO-WTO study on Promoting Access to Medical Technologies and Innovation: Intersections between public health, intellectual property and trade, the five-week virtual course will bring together government officials and technical experts from across the world working on health, intellectual property (IP) and trade policy issues.

From the role of IP to health system considerations and trade-related measures, the course will expose participants to the diverse range of policy areas that influence public health. During a time when collaborative efforts are required more than ever before to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the activity aims to strengthen the foundation for coherent, coordinated and informed policymaking.

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a major global public health crisis and stressed the need for global cooperation. The Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health will address the need for coherent policy responses throughout its programme, which builds on the experience of the series of workshops organized by the WTO Secretariat since 2005.

The programme consists of one introductory module, followed by five substantive modules. Selected participants will have one week to work through each module, at their own pace. They will have access to background materials and video lectures, with a quiz at the end of each module.

Participants will also be requested to attend webinars with different stakeholders discussing topical issues regarding innovation and access to health-related technologies, collaboration to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and regulatory cooperation.