About

The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) speaks for more than 41 million health care professionals worldwide, assembling essential knowledge and experience from the key health care professions in more than 130 countries.

The WHPA was formed in 1999 and now brings together the global organizations representing the world’s dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and physicians. We work to facilitate collaboration among the health professions and major stakeholders such as governments and international organizations, including the World Health Organization. By working in collaboration, instead of along parallel tracks, patients and health care systems benefit.

Together, the partners of the WHPA include more than 600 national member organizations, making us the key point of global access to health care professionals within the five disciplines.

Find out about the WHPA's strategic priorities.

Mission

WHPA is an alliance that promotes and practices interprofessional collaboration and represents the world’s health professionals.

One strong global voice

We are an alliance of global member organisations representing the world’s dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and physicians. We seek to act as their global representative body through collaboration and partnership across areas of shared interest for the good of patient care and public health.

The WHPA works to develop and strengthen health professional’s contribution to the health of the patients and communities they serve.

The WHPA is pro-active and collaborative, offering information and guidance on current health issues relevant to partners and members and providing key stakeholders, such as the World Health Organization, with practical channels to the health professions and their national associations.

The WHPA speaks for more than 41 million health care professionals worldwide and more than 600 national member organisations, assembling essential knowledge and experience from the key health care professions in more than 130 countries.

Member organisations

FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) serves as the principal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide with membership comprising of some 200 national dental associations in about 130 countries.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national organisations representing more than four million pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators around the world.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations, representing the more than 27 million nurses worldwide.

World Physiotherapy is the global body for 125 physiotherapy member organisations, representing more than 685,000 physiotherapists.

The World Medical Association (WMA) is an international organisation representing more than nine million physicians with its membership of 115 national medical associations.