News
News listing
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
#NursesforPeace: Emergency programme to support nurses in Gaza and the West Bank
With the support of Direct Relief, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Palestinian Nursing and Midwifery Association (PNMA) have launched an emergency programme to help provide support to nurses in Gaza and the West Bank, in response to the reports of famine and the high cost of food. This initiative provides direct financial support to over 1,200 nurses.
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 congratulates Malaysian government and Malaysian Nurses Association following rollback of plans to increase nurses’ working hours
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) welcomes the news that the Malaysian government has cancelled a planned extension of working hours from 42 to 45 hours per week for nurses, following strong advocacy by the Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA).
12 September 2025
ICN Monthly Update July & August 2025
Welcome to the July & August 2025 ICN Monthly Update!
9 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
ICN letter to United Nations Secretary General calls for urgent action to end humanitarian crises and attacks on health care in conflict
In a powerful letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the newly elected President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano, reiterates ICN’s calls for immediate action to end devastating attacks on health care in conflict zones and to give populations access to food, health care, and basic humanitarian needs. The letter follows new reports of attacks on health care facilities on Nasser Hospital in Gaza and medical centres in Ukraine as well as the recent declaration of famine in Gaza, with 320,000 children at immediate risk of death.
5 September 2025
World Humanitarian Day: ICN deplores record number of attacks against humanitarian workers
On World Humanitarian Day, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed its horror for the continuing rise in fatalities of health care workers.
19 August 2025
World Humanitarian Day: Health professionals on the brink as conflicts intensify
On World Humanitarian Day, WHPA, which represents 42 million health professionals, together with humanitarian organizations is sounding the alarm: life-saving health services—already underfunded and overstretched—are facing unprecedented pressure as conflicts intensify, targeted attacks on health facilities multiply, and funding is cut.
19 August 2025
Madagascar joins ICN as 141st National Nursing Association member
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is proud to announce that the Conseil de l'Ordre National des Infirmiers de Madagascar (CONIM) has officially joined ICN’s federation, bringing the total membership to over 140 national nursing associations (NNA) worldwide. This marks an important step forward for the global nursing community.
14 August 2025
ICN joins 48 million health professionals calling for inclusion of health care in global plastics treaty
As negotiations to finalize a major global treaty to end plastic pollution begin this week, the International Council of Nurses has joined with Health Care Without Harm and major health groups to demand strong commitments to limit plastic use and protect all people from plastic-related health harms, with special considerations rather than exemptions for the health sector, in an open letter.
7 August 2025
The power of nursing can defend against global health and infectious disease crises, says ICN CEO
ICN's CEO Howard Catton opened yesterday’s 7th International Global Network of Public Health Nursing (GNPHN) Conference in Calgary, Canada with a clear message: nurses must harness their power to address the world’s biggest health challenges — and they must be enabled with investment and policy that supports a strong, sustainable health workforce.
31 July 2025