Title of the activity
Innovation in, and access to, new and emerging health technologies. Joint technical symposium by the WHO, WIPO and WTO.
Activity Type
Other global activity
Description
Innovation in, and access to, health technologies are requisite elements for ensuring progress toward universal health coverage, the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Scientific progress and advances in health technologies, including medicines, vaccines, medical devices, diagnostics, assistive products, cell- and gene-based therapies, and other health technologies have contributed to unprecedented improvements in health outcomes. New and emerging technologies open previously unknown diagnostic and treatment options, having the potential of making an essential contribution to the achievement of universal health coverage. Despite these great advances, significant challenges remain. Gains in life expectancy and quality of life are unequally shared or distributed between low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Troubling inequalities in the burden of disease are, in part, attributed to the disparate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines.
The first panel will introduce new and emerging technologies and outline options and perspectives for future health outcomes. Biotechnology has been able to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment methods as well as innovative biotherapeutic pharmaceutical products. Information technology (IT) has entered all relevant health fields and is used by health administration professionals to facilitate healthcare data management. Medical and assistive devices can produce a wealth of data as they fulfil their therapeutic functions. Such data can be used as a better empirical basis for system-wide improvements. Data can also be processed directly in advanced IT systems in an increasingly autonomous manner to analyse health conditions and to adapt and personalize treatments to individuals. IT plays an increasing role in diagnosis, research and development (R&D), and treatment, including efforts to provide more personalized treatment. Responding to the evolving global disease burden requires further innovation for specific diseases, and needs-driven research in general, as well as ensuring access to and affordability of new treatments.
The second panel will review opportunities and challenges linked to new technologies from a health, intellectual property and trade perspective. Some of the more complex technologies may require sophisticated know-how and equipment. Access to new technologies may not work through a technology-transfer license since implementing technology may depend on extensive knowledge transfer and an appropriate technical environment, such as a laboratory, information technology equipment, or an appropriate R&D/clinical infrastructure. These requirements can lead to high costs for diagnostics and treatments, which poses new challenges in ensuring patient access and affordability, particularly in environments with high out-of-pocket payments. Increasing healthcare costs also pose problems to health insurance providers in high-income countries. Accessing and processing personal, and possibly sensitive and/or confidential patient data, has its own ethical challenges, including obtaining prior informed consent and the applicability of various personal data protection laws.
The first panel will introduce new and emerging technologies and outline options and perspectives for future health outcomes. Biotechnology has been able to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment methods as well as innovative biotherapeutic pharmaceutical products. Information technology (IT) has entered all relevant health fields and is used by health administration professionals to facilitate healthcare data management. Medical and assistive devices can produce a wealth of data as they fulfil their therapeutic functions. Such data can be used as a better empirical basis for system-wide improvements. Data can also be processed directly in advanced IT systems in an increasingly autonomous manner to analyse health conditions and to adapt and personalize treatments to individuals. IT plays an increasing role in diagnosis, research and development (R&D), and treatment, including efforts to provide more personalized treatment. Responding to the evolving global disease burden requires further innovation for specific diseases, and needs-driven research in general, as well as ensuring access to and affordability of new treatments.
The second panel will review opportunities and challenges linked to new technologies from a health, intellectual property and trade perspective. Some of the more complex technologies may require sophisticated know-how and equipment. Access to new technologies may not work through a technology-transfer license since implementing technology may depend on extensive knowledge transfer and an appropriate technical environment, such as a laboratory, information technology equipment, or an appropriate R&D/clinical infrastructure. These requirements can lead to high costs for diagnostics and treatments, which poses new challenges in ensuring patient access and affordability, particularly in environments with high out-of-pocket payments. Increasing healthcare costs also pose problems to health insurance providers in high-income countries. Accessing and processing personal, and possibly sensitive and/or confidential patient data, has its own ethical challenges, including obtaining prior informed consent and the applicability of various personal data protection laws.
Venue
Switzerland
City
WTO - Room W
Trade topic
Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
1
Activity Level
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
English
Application Deadline
02/08/2019
Key Result
1. Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising Members' rights and obligations
Key Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO Agreements, trade policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations
Chapter
4. Geneva-based Advanced Thematic Courses and topic-specific symposia for Capital-based officials
Programme
Invited Members and Observers:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain, Kingdom of
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Côte dʼIvoire
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Kuwait, the State of
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao Peopleʼs Democratic Republic
Lebanese Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao, China
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova, Republic of
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tomé and Principe
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Syrian Arab Republic
Chinese Taipei
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Viet Nam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe