The Medicines Patent Pool, the Department of Science and Innovation of South Africa, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, with the support of the World Health Organization convened a high-level event followed by a reception for heads of delegations, representatives of WHO and other health agencies on the occasion of the 75th World Health Assembly.

Health Ministers and country representatives had the opportunity to discuss the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub Programme and how it is a game changer for access to health products and self-reliance in low- and middle-income countries.

The event was composed of two panel discussions which explored various aspects of the Hub Programme, especially:
• its network all around the world and the trainings that have already been provided at Afrigen in Cape Town
• How the Hub is supporting countries and regions for pandemic preparedness
• how the Hub and its network can be further developed into a dynamic R&D network to address unmet health needs

Click the image to watch a video on the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub Programme

Panelists included:

  • France: StĂ©phanie Seydoux, Ambassador for Global Health
  • Canada: Tamara Mawhinney, Minister Counsellor, Deputy Permanent Representative for Mission of Canada to the United Nations, Geneva
  • Brazil: Arnaldo Correia De Medeiros, Secretary for Health Surveillance
  • Egypt: Minister Khaled Atef Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research
  • Belgium: Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • Norway: John-Arne Røttingen, Ambassador for Global Health
  • South Africa: Minister Joseph Phaahla, Minister of Health
  • World Health Organizantion: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist

The session was moderated by Folly Bah Thibault, Al Jazeera