World Health Organization
As one of the first seven non-governmental organisations to be accepted into official relations with the World Health Organization in 1948, ICN has worked collaboratively on many projects of mutual interest over the years.
As a non-State actor, every year ICN actively participates in the WHO Executive Board meetings and the World Health Assembly to represent the voice of nurses and nursing to advance global health and promote public health.
Collaborative work with WHO on the nursing profession and health includes:
- Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021-2025
- Advanced nursing practice
- Patient safety
- Non-communicable diseases and mental health
- Primary health care
- Infection prevention and control
- Climate change and health
In this section
ICN responses to WHO
News
New WHO report highlights urgency of NCD solutions — but overlooks the vital role of nurses and the health workforce
In advance of next week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), the World Health Organization (WHO) today released an important new report, “Saving lives, spending less: the global investment case for noncommunicable diseases”. ICN welcomed the report’s urgent focus on preventive measures, but raised concerns about a significant gap: the lack of recognition of nurses and the health workforce as mission-critical to all of these action areas.
18 September 2025
ICN calls for urgent investment to support safer care for all children on World Patient Safety Day 2025
On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) joins the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health partners to call for urgent investment in safe, child-centred care for every newborn and young person worldwide.
17 September 2025
ICN's new President meets WHO leaders to strengthen partnership and raise critical issues
Last week, newly-elected ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano met with the World Health Organization’s Assistant Director-General of Health Systems, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, who will oversee the newly-combined WHO Academy, Health Workforce and Nursing department as well as Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu and senior health workforce advisers.
9 September 2025
WHPA urges WHO to maintain strong leadership on health workforce
In an urgent letter to WHO leader, WHPA is sounding the alarm at WHO restructuring which risks sidelining health workforce priorities
16 July 2025
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WHO
New WHO report highlights urgency of NCD solutions — but overlooks the vital role of nurses and the health workforce
In advance of next week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), the World Health Organization (WHO) today released an important new report, “Saving lives, spending less: the global investment case for noncommunicable diseases”. ICN welcomed the report’s urgent focus on preventive measures, but raised concerns about a significant gap: the lack of recognition of nurses and the health workforce as mission-critical to all of these action areas.
18 September 2025
-
WHO
ICN calls for urgent investment to support safer care for all children on World Patient Safety Day 2025
On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) joins the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health partners to call for urgent investment in safe, child-centred care for every newborn and young person worldwide.
17 September 2025
-
WHO
ICN's new President meets WHO leaders to strengthen partnership and raise critical issues
Last week, newly-elected ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano met with the World Health Organization’s Assistant Director-General of Health Systems, Dr Yukiko Nakatani, who will oversee the newly-combined WHO Academy, Health Workforce and Nursing department as well as Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu and senior health workforce advisers.
9 September 2025
-
WHO
WHPA urges WHO to maintain strong leadership on health workforce
In an urgent letter to WHO leader, WHPA is sounding the alarm at WHO restructuring which risks sidelining health workforce priorities
16 July 2025