The World Health Organization (WHO) Regulation and Prequalification Department is launching a comprehensive learning resource, the Health Products Regulation and Prequalification Learning Catalogue , to help countries build stronger systems for overseeing the safety, quality and effectiveness of health products. These products include medicines, vaccines, medical devices and other technologies essential for diagnosing, treating and preventing disease.
Effective regulatory systems are the backbone of well-functioning health systems. They play a key role in improving public health outcomes and helping to achieve universal health coverage, the goal that everyone, everywhere, should be able to get the health services and products they need without financial hardship.
However, recent WHO data show that only about 30% of Member States currently have a well-functioning regulatory system, classified as reaching an advanced level of performance, known as maturity level 3 or 4. This means that in many countries, especially low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there are serious gaps in how health products are regulated.
A major challenge in LMICs is the shortage of a qualified regulatory workforce. This gap is driven by factors such as workforce shortages, staff retention issues and inadequate technical training. At the same time, the rapid pace of innovation in health technologies and the globalization of medical product supply further underscore the need for continuous development of the regulatory workforce.
In response to this challenge, the WHO Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ) has designed and implemented a wide range of learning opportunities for regulatory professionals. These include up to 52 self-paced e-learning courses, instructor-led training sessions and on-the-job training experiences. The courses cover various regulatory functions and health products and are available in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for professionals around the world.
To improve access to these resources, the newly launched Catalogue will serve as a centralized platform, making all RPQ learning opportunities easily accessible and searchable for target audiences. For example, regulatory inspectors can explore a rich and diverse selection of training options designed to support them throughout their careers, from flexible e-learning modules (2 available) to expert-led classroom sessions (4 available) and immersive on-the-job experiences (2 available) that bring learning directly into real-world settings.
Looking ahead, the WHO Academy and its learning platform will enable the development of even more advanced learning solutions, in collaboration with a broad network of partner institutions. It will provide free access to a comprehensive catalogue of accredited, multilingual and competency-based courses. Designed to be engaging and tailored to the diverse needs of the global regulatory workforce, these learning opportunities will help professionals strengthen their skills at every stage of their careers.
This initiative reflects WHO's broader commitment to strengthening regulatory systems and ensuring that people everywhere have equitable access to health products that are safe, effective, high-quality and affordable.
