WHO’s Dr. Tedros Stresses Local Production for Health Equity
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of increasing local production of health products to ensure global health equity and better pandemic preparedness. Speaking at the third World Local Production Forum 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Tedros highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in the distribution of vaccines and medical supplies, particularly due to limited production in a few countries.
Dr. Tedros noted that local production is not only a crucial response to pandemics but also a pathway to ensuring the fundamental human right to health. “The right to health means the right to equitable access to the products that protect and promote it,” he said. 
He outlined four key recommendations to boost local production:
- Strengthen local ecosystems through technology transfer, data sharing, and regulatory improvements.
- Leverage digital technologies like AI and big data to enhance the entire production chain.
- Promote environmentally sustainable production by using energy-efficient technologies and raw materials.
- Foster public-private partnerships to drive investment in R&D, manufacturing, and workforce development.
Dr. Tedros urged immediate action from governments, industries, and global institutions, stressing that waiting for formal agreements is unnecessary. He reminded the audience that health is a fundamental human right, as affirmed by the WHO Constitution in 1948, and that local production is essential for future pandemic preparedness and response.
