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Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property (GSPA-PHI)

The global strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property (GSPA-PHI) and the related plan of action were adopted by the Sixty-first World Health Assembly in resolution WHA61.21 (2008), with the final plan of action being adopted by the Sixty-second World Health Assembly in resolution WHA62.16 (2009).

The GSPA-PHI aims to promote new thinking on innovation and access to medicines and to secure an enhanced and sustainable basis for needs-driven essential health research and development relevant to diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries. The GSPA-PHI has eight elements which are designed to promote innovation, build capacity, improve access and mobilize resources (listed in the Box below). The principles and elements of the GSPA-PHI guide and frame the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) on access to medicines and other health products.

A number of different teams in WHO HQ undertake work that contributes to implementing the GSPA-PHI. As a non-exhaustive list of relevant teams, this includes the Emerging Technologies, Research Prioritisation and Support Unit (EPS), TDR, the Local Production & Assistance Unit (LPA), the WHO/MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, the Intellectual Property Management unit (IPM), the Pricing and Affordability (AAP) team, and the Essential Medicines List secretariat (EML), as well as WHO Regional Offices.


The eight elements of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property.

  1. Prioritizing research and development needs
  2. Promoting research and development
  3. Building and improving innovative capacity
  4. Transfer of technology
  5. Application and management of intellectual property to contribute to innovate and promote public health
  6. Improving delivery and access
  7. Promoting sustainable finance mechanisms
  8. Establishing monitoring and reporting systems

In 2017, an overall programme review for the GSPA-PHI gave recommendations and progress indicators, valid for the period 2017-22.  In May 2022, the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly decided in resolution 75.14 to extend the time frame for the implementation of the GSPA-PHI from 2022 to 2030, that is, to be coterminous with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2030) Agenda.

As requested in resolution 75.14, WHO Secretariat, in consultation with Member States, relevant WHO departments, and the six WHO Regional Offices, has prepared a new GSPA-PHI implementation plan for the 2024-26 biennium. The plan will soon be available on this page.

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Intellectual property and trade