The Local Production & Assistance Unit (LPA) supports countries to facilitate technology transfer for local production with a focus on priority health products or technologies which have high public health impact, in collaboration with other WHO programmes.
Manufacturers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), may face challenges accessing and implementing the technology to build capacity. Technology transfer is a complex process that needs a holistic and collaborative approach. The LPA Unit conducts landscape analyses on technology transfer for the local production of medical products, and continuously explores mechanisms to increase technology transfer and new opportunities for collaboration to promote technology transfer in developing countries in line with country needs.
Technology transfer enables countries, particularly LMICs, to build capacity in local production of medical products in the short-term. Technology transfer is a logical procedure that controls the transfer of products, processes, skills, technology and knowledge together with its documentation and professional expertise, allowing the diffusion of innovation to new horizons, such as institutions and markets.
Under the context of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI), the LPA Unit developed resources to support Member States in strengthening their technology transfer through policy & strategy setting, series of processes for sharing knowledge, technology and skills, trainings, and conducting situational analyses for the increase of access to medical products through technology transfer and local production. The LPA Unit identifies and analyses trends in the local production of medical products and related technology transfer in developing countries. The methodology of research used includes interviews with stakeholders, including industry actors, operators of product development partnerships (PDPs), government officials and members of public health advocacy groups, review of literature, among others. Trends and analysis of Technology Transfer can be found for medicines, vaccines, medical devices, IVD and blood products.
