Reflections from the World Local Production Forum (WLPF) 2025
Q&A with Julia Hochberger (Wemos) and Claudia Martinez (Access to Medicine Foundation)
The 3rd World Local Production Forum (WLPF), held in Abu Dhabi from 7–9 April 2025, brought together a wide range of stakeholders to reflect on progress and challenges in strengthening local manufacturing of health products. Organized by the World Health Organization, the Forum served as an important platform to discuss strategies for building more resilient, self-reliant health systems through regional production initiatives. How can we ensure that these efforts truly deliver affordable, quality-assured health products to the populations that need them most? And how can partnerships, policies, and financing mechanisms be structured to center public health outcomes rather than just economic gains?
In this Q&A, we hear reflections from two leading voices who participated in the Forum: Julia Hochberger, Global Health Expert at Wemos, and Claudia Martinez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation.
What were your key takeaways from the World Local Production Forum (WLPF)?
Julia Hochberger: The forum showcased strong alignment among participants on the key ingredients necessary for successful regional manufacturing: political leadership, regulatory harmonization, sustained investment, technology transfer, skilled workforce development, and infrastructure. Yet, I observed a crucial gap, while industrial policies and supply-side measures were emphasized, there was insufficient attention to ensuring that local production delivers on access and affordability for the most vulnerable populations. Without clear strategies for equitable access, regional self-reliance risks becoming an economic project rather than a public health initiative.
Claudia Martinez: I saw promising developments in regulatory harmonization, such as the momentum around the African Medicines Agency and WHO Maturity Level 3 achievements among several African regulatory authorities. Procurement strategies also emerged as critical: fostering local production must go beyond selecting the lowest price. The newly announced African Pooled Procurement Mechanism is a promising step. Moreover, the forum underscored the importance of expanding technology transfer beyond final-stage production, towards robust Research & Development (R&D) ecosystems
What was your role or contribution during the event?
Hochberger: I represented Wemos from a civil society perspective, raising critical points about the need for public accountability, conditionality on public funding, and prioritization of public health goals over corporate profits. I served as a panelist in the session "Fostering Policy Coherence and Government Commitment," where I advocated for access conditions tied to public investments and emphasized the critical role of technology transfer in building independent, self-reliant local production ecosystems.
Martinez: I participated in the plenary panel “Driving Sustainable Local Production: The Power of Collaboration and Partnerships,” sharing insights from the 2024 Access to Medicine Index. I highlighted how pharmaceutical companies' technology transfer efforts remain limited in scope and stressed the need for stronger, more comprehensive partnerships to expand local manufacturing capacities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Why is local production of health products an important topic from your perspective?
Hochberger: Local production strengthens health systems by increasing access to affordable, quality-assured health products tailored to regional needs. It nurtures economic and social development, fosters local expertise, and ensures that innovations reach underserved communities. Especially during pandemics or health emergencies, resilient local production can make the difference between equitable health access and deepening health disparities.
Martinez: Strengthening local production is critical for achieving health system resilience and reducing dependency on external suppliers. These lessons have been made painfully clear during COVID-19. It stimulates economic growth, creates jobs, and promotes health sovereignty. Importantly, many African manufacturers are already advancing into more complex product manufacturing, such as injectables and mRNA vaccines.
Were there any moments, sessions, or discussions that particularly stood out to you?
Hochberger: Several moments were powerful, notably Dr. John Kaseya’s speech on the 75% reduction in external funding for African health systems. It underscored the urgent need for sustained investment. I also appreciated strong advocacy from organizations like DNDi, the Medicines Patent Pool, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, who emphasized the necessity of access, affordability, and technology transfer.
Martinez: One standout session for me was the discussion on real-world experiences from WHO AFRO Member States. Nigeria’s “Unlocking Healthcare Value Chain” initiative was particularly inspiring, showcasing targeted efforts to scale up local vaccine manufacturing. Hearing directly from local manufacturers about their strategies for overcoming financing and regulatory hurdles was invaluable.
What message did you hope to bring across?
Hochberger: Our key message at Wemos was clear: Local production must not just focus on manufacturing volume, but also prioritize access, affordability, and health equity. Public investments must come with conditions ensuring that funded efforts serve public health objectives. Furthermore, civil society organizations must have a central role in shaping policies to guarantee that production systems remain people-centered.
Martinez: I emphasized the need for strategic regional production, recognizing that not every country can or should manufacture everything. We must encourage smart complementarities across countries. Moreover, partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and local actors must move beyond transactional agreements toward deeper collaborations that enable sustainable capacity-building.
How do you view the role of youth and young professionals in shaping global health policy spaces?
Hochberger: Youth and young professionals bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and an intrinsic drive toward social justice. They must be meaningfully included in discussions around local production and global health governance. Building their capacities and ensuring their participation can help ensure that new manufacturing ecosystems remain accountable, inclusive, and people-driven.
Martinez: Young professionals are essential for driving innovation and sustaining long-term progress in global health policy. Their involvement is vital in building resilient ecosystems that are adaptable to future challenges. Investments in education, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for youth will be crucial for advancing sustainable local production efforts.