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:
ICN CEO Howard Catton has updated a meeting of more than 70 World Health Organization Member States on the unique role nurses are playing in the promotion of peace in societies everywhere.
21 November 2023
ICN has published a report detailing its significant interventions at the 76th World Health Assembly in May this year.
6 November 2023
Ahead of World Patient Day (17 September), ICN CEO Howard Catton is calling for urgent action on patient safety to back-up the World Health Organization’s new charter on patient safety rights.
15 September 2023
ICN’s 80-strong delegation of nurses at the WHA, led by ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano, spoke at a wide range of side events and intervened on numerous agenda items at the event, including on emergency preparedness, UHC, infection prevention and control, and women’s and children’s health.
1 June 2023