Well-managed hospitals improve health outcomes for everyone, everywhere.

Become a member

Knowledge. Interaction. Ambition.

Through our members, we are the voice of hospitals and health systems on the global stage.

We connect healthcare leaders, supporting them to excel through training and development. We create forums for international, peer to peer knowledge exchange. Our events, programmes, and special interest groups showcase good practices. We work in partnership with international organizations on key issues for our members.

Who we are

Our members

We connect over 130 organizations around the world.

130+

Members

25,000+

Hospitals

60+

Countries

What our members say

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What our members say

Paul – Émile Cloutier

President and CEO, HealthCareCAN (IHF Full Member)

HealthCareCAN deeply values its relationship with the IHF, and it is our view that global cooperation and partnerships are a vital component of Canada’s success. Our membership in the IHF for the past seven years has provided our members with international perspectives that have helped drive innovation and excellence in Canada’s health system.

Dr Steve Ueng

President, Taiwan Hospital Association (IHF Full Member)

The Taiwan Hospital Association joined the IHF as a full member in 1970. We are delighted that the IHF provides its members with a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with different actors in the health sector to improve the standard, quality, and level of service delivery.

Matthew Taylor

CEO, NHS Confederation (IHF Full Member)

The greatest strength of IHF membership for us over the last five years has been our ability to connect with leaders across the IHF community, to share our mutual experiences, insights, and expertise. Our collaboration with the IHF has helped us share international best practice with our members as they contend with the mutual challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Simon Tang

Director (Cluster Services), Hong Kong Hospital Authority (IHF Full Member)

As part of the IHF community throughout the years, our staff members have been offered valuable opportunities in knowledge and strategies exchange, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of the IHF will become more and more important amid the challenges of chronic illnesses and aging population faced by various hospitals and healthcare associations around the world. We are confident that the IHF will lead us to tackle these challenges ahead.

Want to become a member?

Join our global network – sharing commitment to improve the level, quality, and sustainability of healthcare service delivery.

What we do

Connect internationally

We provide our members with a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with different actors in the health sector. Motivated by a shared commitment to well-managed hospitals, our members act together to improve the standard, quality, and level of healthcare service delivery.

Knowledge exchange

Connect at the annual World Hospital Congress, virtual events, and study tours. Special interest groups focus on the key issues for today’s hospital managers. Annual IHF Awards recognize and share good practice.

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Leadership development

Dedicated groups for association leaders, and women in leadership, a development programme for young executives, and a leadership competencies framework.

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Outreach and partnerships

Advocacy and international collaborations help us to carry out our work more effectively and find creative solutions to support our members facing a variety of challenges.

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Geneva Sustainability Centre

Driving net zero, climate resilient, and sustainable health systems: supporting hospitals to become leaders for sustainability in their communities.

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Highlights

Maximize your World Hospital Congress with a pre-or post-congress activity

Leaders in healthcare around the world are turning their attention to sustainability, climate resilience, and net-zero carbon emissions. Recent research estimates that the healthcare sector is responsible for over 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Hospital and healthcare leaders need to drive sustainable transformation at leadership, management, and institutional levels.

Now is the time to add the latest essential leadership competency to your skillset with a masterclass designed specifically for hospital and healthcare executives, delivered by the IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre in Portuguese (23 October) and English (24 October).

Save your seat at the masterclass

Rio de Janeiro will host the 47th World Hospital Congress in 2024

The 47th World Hospital Congress will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2024.

The World Hospital Congress brings together hospital leaders and healthcare delivery executives to connect around global learning for local action. This Congress is a forum to exchange best practices in leadership and management of healthcare delivery. Annually, the World Hospital Congress attracts over 1200 participants from around 60 countries.

Press release: 47th World Hospital Congress in Rio

New hub for innovation comes to World Hospital Congress 2023

New for 2023 – the IHF’s i-to-i Innovation Hub will make its debut in the programme at the 46th World Hospital Congress in Lisbon.

The Hub will showcase products demonstrating innovating approaches to healthcare delivery. The theme for 2023 is the “delivery of hospital care outside of the hospital setting”.

The Hub is presented in collaboration with the UK Department for Business and Trade, and Stanford Medicine.

Applications to showcase an innovation at the Hub are accepted until Tuesday 20 June.

Apply to take part in the Hub

Concern for safety of healthcare in Sudan

Recent reports of attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan are deeply concerning. Health facilities and their workers are never to be targeted during armed conflicts. Attacks on hospitals, healthcare workers, and ambulances are not acceptable – no matter the context, no matter the reason. We stand with our partners, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in asking that international humanitarian law be respected. Healthcare is #NotATarget.

More about our advocacy and partnership work

2023 World Hospital Congress: Take advantage of early bird registration

Registration is now open! Join us from 25 to 27 October - and don't miss the pre-congress activities on 23 and 24 October.
The scientific programme, masterclasses, workshops, and networking events create unparalleled opportunities to explore current issues and cutting-edge innovations with global hospital managers.
Take advantage of exclusive early bird rates by booking now. IHF members also benefit from special membership discounts. Discounts are available for those coming from low and lower-middle-income countries, and groups of 5 or more.

Book at exclusive early bird rates

The deadline for the IHF Awards call for entries is now extended until 30 June

Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your achievements to the global healthcare community and to give your workforce the recognition they deserve. The deadline for entries is now extended to 30 June, so don't delay – start your entries today.

Entries can be submitted in 7 award categories:

> Dr Kwang Tae Kim Grand Hospital Award
> Seddiqi Holding Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
> Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals
> Sultanate of Oman Excellence Award for Health Services During Crisis
> American Hospital Association Excellence Award for Healthcare Workers' Wellbeing
> American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management
> Austco Excellence Award for Quality & Patient Safety

More details and prepare your entry

Discussing sustainable healthcare with Dr Tedros at the WHO

On Friday 2 December 2022 at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters, the need to support hospitals to be more resilient and sustainable was the subject of discussion in a meeting between the IHF, Geneva Sustainability Centre, University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and the WHO.

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IHF Awards 2022

The winners of the IHF Awards 2022 were presented at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner on 10 November at the 45th World Hospital Congress in Dubai (UAE). A total of 63 finalists were shortlisted across 7 categories, from which the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were given, as well as honourable mentions to other exceptional entries in each category.

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Building a more equitable, inclusive workplace

On 1 September 2022, the International Hospital Federation’s Women in Leadership Forum hosted a webinar in collaboration with Global Alumni: Turning challenges into leadership opportunities. In this exchange on the issues female healthcare leaders face, the panel of speakers shared personal experiences and practical advice.

Find out more
Building an inclusive workplace_in the spotlight

Is your hospital prepared for a cyberattack?

If your hospital is targeted, it’s more than data at risk – the reputational consequences can lead to a damaging loss of trust. The IHF’s Harnessing Big Data Special Interest Group hosted a session in collaboration with Vizient, Inc. focused on helping CEOs and C-suite executives prepare effective communications strategies to minimize the negative impacts of a cyberattack

Find out more
Cyberattack_in the spotlight

Addressing climate change as an integral part of healthcare delivery

We join our voice with those recognizing the impact of the healthcare sector on the environment and human health. We equally recognize that good leadership is paramount to drive the organizational changes which will generate positive impact for the generations to come.
This statement illustrates the conviction of IHF Members that every hospital and healthcare organization has a role to play in its community in addressing the sustainability challenges. We also consider it as the starting point of our long-term engagement to take action on climate change.
Through our newly established Geneva Sustainability Centre, we are committed to responding to your needs and to equipping current and future hospital leaders with the required information, tools and skills.

IHF Statement on Sustainability

News and insights

Catch up on the latest…

Getting started: Getting the Board on board

Hospitals play an important role in communities, however, they also have a significant environmental impact. Embedding sustainability into a governance...

Navigating Net Zero – an overview of the Geneva Sustainability Study Tour for Polish Hospital Executives

On  1–2 May 2023, the IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre was pleased to welcome the Polish Hospital Federation (PFSz) for a...

Key takeaways on cyberattacks on healthcare

Hospitals hold critical and valuable information such as patient data and financial information, as well as cutting-edge research and innovation....

Getting started: Green spaces in healthcare

Sustainable hospitals and healthcare delivery settings can use their surrounding environments to strive for better health outcomes. Green spaces (in...