An Indian delegation led by Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhagwant Khuba, will depart for the Netherlands on Saturday, November 4, 2023, to participate in the 2nd World Local Production Forum (WLPF) in The Hague. The WLPF is a platform created at the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim of increasing access to medicines and other health technologies.
During the visit, a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between India and the Netherlands on cooperation in the field of medical product regulation is expected to be signed. Mr. Khuba will also visit the European Medicines Agency and Eindhoven to participate in Kannada Rajyotsava 2023 Celebrations of Shrigandha Holland Kannada Balaga.
The WLPF is expected to bring together up to 800 high-level participants from diverse sectors, including ministers and senior-level government officials, leaders and representatives of international organizations and other development partners, senior representatives from international and regional finance institutions, representatives of the private sector, civil societies, and academia.
The forum will focus on discussing and developing strategies to increase local production of medicines and other health technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This is important to ensure that everyone has access to the essential medicines and health technologies they need, regardless of where they live.
India’s participation in the WLPF is significant, as the country is a major producer of generic medicines and vaccines. India’s participation will help to ensure that the perspectives of low- and middle-income countries are considered in the development of strategies to increase local production of medicines and other health technologies.