WHO, WIPO and WTO hold first joint briefing for Geneva-based officials
ANALYSIS
1. Background of the Meeting
- The World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and World Trade Organization (WTO) organized the first Trilateral Cooperation briefing for diplomats dealing with health, trade and intellectual property (IP) in Geneva.
- The meeting was held on 26 February 2025 at WHO Headquarters and was conducted as a closed session for Members.
2. Purpose of the Trilateral Cooperation
- The three organizations emphasized the need for an integrated policy approachat the intersection of:
- Public health
- International trade
- Intellectual property rights
- The collaboration reflects the long-standing partnership among these Geneva-based multilateral institutions.
3. Key Discussion Themes
- Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems
- Members exchanged experiences on policies that support innovation while ensuring access to health technologies.
- Policy Coordination
- Governments face the challenge of selecting the appropriate policy mix to promote domestic innovation while addressing global health needs.
- Implementation Experiences
- Countries with different development levels and regional backgrounds shared lessons on implementing laws and policies that promote innovation and equitable access.
4. Trilateral Technical Assistance Platform
- The meeting introduced the WHO–WIPO–WTO Technical Assistance Virtual Platform.
- Key features:
- Enables Member States to request joint technical assistance.
- Provides coordinated expertise on health policy, intellectual property frameworks and trade regulation.
- Facilitates policy coherence and institutional collaboration.
5. Future Engagement
- The Trilateral Briefing Series will continue as closed meetings for Member representatives.
- The next session is tentatively scheduled for September 2025 after the summer break.
STATIC PART
WHO–WIPO–WTO Trilateral Cooperation
- Established to address issues at the intersection of public health, trade and intellectual property.
- Focus areas include:
- Access to medicines and medical technologies
- Innovation and research incentives
- Balancing intellectual property rights with public health needs
- Cooperation activities include:
- Joint studies and publications
- Capacity building and technical assistance
- Policy dialogues among member states
About the Organizations
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- UN agency that administers international treaties related to intellectual property.
- Works to promote innovation and creativity through balanced IP systems.
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- Global body that regulates international trade rules and dispute settlement.
- Oversees agreements including the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights).
Updated - 28 February 2025 | News Source: