WHO and partners strengthen global commitment to sustainable local manufacturing for health

Sustainable local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines and diagnostic tests has become a strategic priority for building more resilient health systems, improving equitable access to essential health products and strengthening global health security.

Recent health emergencies exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and reinforced the need for countries and regions to strengthen their capacity to produce quality-assured health products closer to where they are needed.

Reflecting this shared vision, more than 200 representatives from governments, regional institutions, regulatory authorities, industry, development finance institutions, academia and international organizations gathered at the Private Sector Engagement Forum (PSEF 2026) held in Cairo, Egypt, from 18-20 June 2026.

Co-convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, the Forum explored how stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors can help build sustainable manufacturing ecosystems for medicines, vaccines and diagnostic tests across Africa.

Opening the Forum, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Systems, Access and Data, emphasized the contribution of geographically diversified manufacturing to resilient health systems that can ensure timely access to quality-assured health products, including during health emergencies.

On behalf of H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, Dr Amr Kandil, Deputy Minister of Health and Population for Preventive Health and Primary Care, reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to advancing pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing as both a public health priority and a driver of sustainable economic development.

H.E. Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt and the League of Arab States, and Mrs Birgit Pickel, Director-General for Sustainable Development and Climate at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), underscored the importance of long-term international partnerships, regional collaboration and sustained investment to strengthen innovation, regulatory systems and manufacturing capacity.

Manufacturing ecosystems, not manufacturing facilities

Across more than 20 high-level sessions, the Forum reinforced a growing global consensus: sustainable local manufacturing cannot be achieved by investing in production facilities alone.

Participants emphasized that competitive manufacturing depends on strong regulatory systems, skilled workforces, quality management, research and innovation, reliable supplier networks, sustainable financing and predictable markets working together as part of an integrated ecosystem. Together, these interconnected elements create an enabling environment in which local manufacturing can become sustainable, competitive and responsive to public health needs.

The discussions reflected a broader shift from emergency-driven investments towards building long-term systems capable of meeting routine health needs while responding rapidly to future outbreaks.

Creating the conditions for sustainable production

Predictable demand emerged as a prerequisite for sustainable manufacturing. Market-shaping initiatives, pooled procurement mechanisms and long-term purchasing commitments can strengthen market sustainability while improving access to essential health products. The African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) and Gavi's African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) were discussed as examples of approaches that can help strengthen market sustainability.

Regional collaboration emerged as another critical enabler of sustainable manufacturing. Participants emphasized the need to reduce market fragmentation by strengthening regulatory convergence, reliance mechanisms and regional market integration, including through the African Medicines Agency (AMA). More harmonized regulatory systems can speed access to quality-assured products while creating larger, more predictable markets for manufacturers.

The Forum also underscored the central role of technology transfer in strengthening sustainable manufacturing capacity. Successful technology transfer extends beyond manufacturing processes or intellectual property; it requires building institutional capabilities, including quality management systems, regulatory expertise, operational excellence, scientific know-how and innovation capacity.

Investing in people, quality and innovation

The Forum also underscored that sustainable manufacturing ultimately depends on people. Continued investment in scientific, engineering, regulatory and managerial skills, alongside stronger regional training centres, public-private partnerships and international collaboration will be essential to building resilient manufacturing ecosystems. WHO's Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative was highlighted as one example of efforts to help countries build long-term technical expertise through regional training hubs and capacity-building programmes.

Quality emerged as another central pillar of sustainable manufacturing. Discussions emphasized that international competitiveness depends on embedding quality throughout the manufacturing process, from Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and quality management systems to regulatory maturity and WHO Prequalification.

Sustainable manufacturing also requires strengthening innovation capacity alongside production capabilities. Building resilient manufacturing ecosystems means enabling manufacturers to adapt technologies, improve production processes and contribute to the development of new health products that respond to evolving public health needs.

Turning partnership into action

Reflecting on the outcomes of the PSEF 2026, Dr Jicui Dong, Unit Head of WHO's Products Policy, Access and Manufacturing Support Unit (PAM), and Secretariat of the PSEF said:

"This year's Forum demonstrated that sustainable local manufacturing depends on much more than production capacity alone. It requires strong partnerships, predictable demand, quality systems, skilled workforces, enabling regulatory environments and coordinated action across the entire ecosystem. By bringing together governments, industry, development partners, financiers and technical institutions, we can accelerate progress towards more resilient health systems and equitable access to quality-assured health products."

As countries seek to build more resilient and self-reliant health systems, the Forum reinforced that sustainable local manufacturing is no longer solely an industrial objective - it is increasingly recognized as a public health imperative. It concluded with closing remarks by Dr Nima Saeed Abid, WHO Representative to Egypt, who reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between governments, industry, development partners and regional institutions to translate the momentum generated during PSEF 2026 into concrete action.

The outcomes of PSEF 2026 will inform WHO's ongoing work with Member States and partners to support sustainable local manufacturing, strengthen regional production ecosystems and improve equitable access to quality-assured health products, helping countries prepare for both routine health needs and future public health emergencies.

The Private Sector Engagement Forum received support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Participants at the Private Sector Engagement Forum 2026 in Cairo, Egypt, where public and private sector leaders came together to advance sustainable manufacturing ecosystems for medicines, vaccines and diagnostic tests across Africa.

Dr Jicui Dong, Unit Head of WHO's Products Policy, Access and Manufacturing Support (PAM) Unit, opens the High-Level Meetings of the PSEF 2026, setting the stage for discussions on resilient manufacturing ecosystems, equitable access to health products and stronger public-private collaboration.

High-level speakers and distinguished guests gather ahead of the opening of the Private Sector Engagement Forum 2026 in Cairo, Egypt. The opening programme brought together leaders from WHO, BMZ, the European Union and the Government of Egypt to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing sustainable local manufacturing ecosystems across Africa.