Official WHA79 Side Event: Advancing Local Production for Equitable Access, Resilient Health Systems, and Global Health Security

Event Information

Date                : Monday, 18 May 2026

Time                : 13:00–14:20 CEST (18:00 - 19:20 WIB)

Venue              : Salle C, Building A, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) International and co-sponsored by the Governments of the Netherlands, South Africa, Nigeria, and Brazil as well as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is organizing an official side event during the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79).

The event will discuss the importance of strengthening local and regional manufacturing capacity for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

The event convenes ministers, global health leaders, international organizations, vaccine manufacturers, and development partners to exchange perspectives on advancing equitable access, strengthening resilient health systems, and promoting sustainable global health security through stronger local production ecosystems.

The discussion highlights lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the importance of geographically diversified manufacturing capacity, voluntary technology transfer, sustainable partnerships, and stronger regional collaboration, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The side event also marks the announcement of the Host Country Agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the 4th World Local Production Forum (WLPF) 2027 in Bali, Indonesia.

Featured Speakers and Moderators

• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)
• H.E. Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health, Republic of Indonesia
• Mr. Bonanza Perwira Taihitu, Senior Advisor to the Minister on Politics and Health Globalization, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia
• H.E. Ms. Sophie Hermans, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Netherlands
• H.E. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Dr. Aquina Thulare, Technical Advisor on National Health Insurance (NHI), Ministry of Health, South Africa
• Mr. Igor Ferreira Bueno, Director of the Health Economic-Industrial Complex Department, Brazil
• Dr. Jicui Dong, WLPF Secretariat, and Unit Head, Product Policies, Access and Manufacturing Support Unit (PAM), WHO
• Dr. Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
• Dr. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
• H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
• Dr. Frederik Kristensen, Managing Director, Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC)
• Ms. Iin Susanti, Chair of the Board, DCVMN International
• Dr. Morena Makhoana, Deputy Chair of the Board, DCVMN International, Group Chief Executive Officer, The Biovac Institute
• Mr. Rajinder Kumar Suri, Chief Executive Officer, DCVMN International

Watch the Live Webstream

The event will be webcast live from WHO Headquarters, Geneva. The live webstream can be accessed through this page during the event session.

For further information, agenda, and concept brief: https://mailchi.mp/a3a5edf0cdc4/wha79-side-event-advancing-local-production-for-equitable-access