In order to enhance the integration between Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property and in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 to enhance the health system and sustainable development, the workshop on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) officially started today (Tuesday) at the Novotel Muscat Airport Hotel. 
The Ministry of Health, represented by the Department of External and International Relations, in collaboration with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, organizes the workshop, which started yesterday. 
The workshop was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Health Regulation in the presence of several officials from the Ministry, the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion. 
The three-day workshop will feature experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The workshop will be attended by 40 participants, including government officials, legal experts, decision-makers in the fields of intellectual property and public health, representatives from international organizations, academics, researchers, healthcare specialists, and stakeholders from the private sector involved in pharmaceutical production and innovation in healthcare.
    
The workshop aims to familiarize health sector professionals with the TRIPS Agreement, enhance capacity in health-related TRIPS areas, and engage the private health and pharmaceutical sectors in its implementation. It seeks to strengthen cooperation between Oman and international organizations, explore TRIPS flexibility tools for national development, introduce flexible manufacturing techniques for efficient drug production, and improve resource management. The workshop also promotes collaboration between national companies, academic institutions, and research organizations to foster knowledge exchange, accelerate research and development, and generate new intellectual property, while boosting local investment and partnerships with major health product manufacturers.
The training workshop will cover a variety of key topics, including an introduction to the TRIPS Agreement and its significance for public health, an overview of the legal and political framework in the Sultanate of Oman, interactive discussions on the intersection of healthcare systems and intellectual property, the evolution of the TRIPS Agreement from the Doha Declaration to the latest updates, exploring modern technologies and their impact on health, capacity-building sessions on intellectual property licensing and technology transfer, in-depth discussions on trade secrets, clinical trial data, and counterfeit medical products, as well as multilateral frameworks for addressing global challenges, concluding remarks, and the development of an action plan.
It is worth noting that this workshop is a platform to enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s ability to benefit from the flexibility of the TRIPS Agreement in order to address public health challenges, while enhancing cooperation between key stakeholders. Its outcomes expected to contribute to advancing national and global health priorities, ensuring sustainable development and innovation.