THE World Trade Organisation (WTO)said on Thursday it will host a virtual workshop on trade and public health with a special focus on COVID-19 for senior government officials from their member countries, from May 3-June 11, 2021.

The latest in the long-running series of WTO capacity-building programmes, the session will be delivered in close collaboration with the secretariats of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

"The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a major global public health crisis and underlines the need for global cooperation," said the Geneva-based body.

The course takes a holistic approach to the interlinkages between trade and public health and responds to requests by members and observers for training and capacity building on these issues, especially in view of the current global health crisis.

The programme consists of one introductory module followed by five substantive modules.Selected participants will have one week to work through each module at their own pace. They will have access to background materials and video lectures, with a quiz at the end of each module.

Participants will also be asked to attend webinars with different stakeholders to discuss topical issues regarding innovation and access to health-related technologies, collaboration on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regulatory cooperation.