IVAA | International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations

What IVAA | International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations does

IVAA, the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations, is a Brussels-headquartered non-profit federation founded in 1920 that unites national anthroposophic medical associations worldwide to promote the recognition and integration of Anthroposophic Medicine into health systems. The federation operates with a lean staff of 7 employees and is led by President Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer (elected September 2024) and Secretary General Elisa Baldini, with Vice-Presidents Dr Thomas Breitkreuz and Dr Iracema Benevides. Its primary outputs are policy advocacy at the World Health Organization, European Parliament, and G20; the WHO Benchmarks for Training in Anthroposophic Medicine (2023); research and case-study publications; and coalition leadership of the TCIH Coalition (300+ organizations) and EUROCAM.

The federation's product surface is built around Anthroposophic Medicine — an integrative approach combining conventional medicine with holistic modalities including mistletoe (Viscum album) therapy for oncology, anthroposophic arts therapies (painting, music, drama), body therapies, and anthroposophic nursing. Notable clinical reference points include Centro Médico Antroposófico in Lima, Peru (4,000+ consultations annually, 3,300 monthly mistletoe applications), Filderklinik Hospital in Germany (low NICU antibiotic use), and Fribourg Hospital in Switzerland (96% parent satisfaction in pediatric integrative care). The training pipeline produces 2,000+ certified arts therapies practitioners globally through 3-4 year programs aligned with WHO standards. The federation itself does not commercialize products; its deliverables are standards, frameworks, and advocacy.

IVAA's business model is a non-profit membership federation funded by dues from national anthroposophic medical associations; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market operates through community-led advocacy, coalition participation, publications, events (WHO Benchmarks Symposium, Teaming Up Against Cancer), and digital communications (website, Mailchimp newsletter, LinkedIn, Twitter/X). It holds no patents or trademarks and reports no external investment or acquisitions. Geographic reach spans Europe, Latin America, Israel, and India, with global coordination via the WHO-adjacent advocacy track.

Name

IVAA | International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations

Legal name

International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations

Website

https://ivaa.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IVAA is a Brussels-based international non-profit federation founded in 1920 that unites national anthroposophic medical associations worldwide to promote the integration of Anthroposophic Medicine into health systems through policy advocacy, WHO collaboration, training standards, and research publication.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrative Medicine Advocacy

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAH

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYHLAJAKAN

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Anthroposophic medicine
• Integrative healthcare
• Complementary medicine
• Medical federation
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and advocacy activities: IVAA operates as a non-profit international federation funded through membership fees from national anthroposophic medical associations. The organization conducts policy advocacy, publishes research, and organizes events to promote Anthroposophic Medicine integration into health systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IVAA promotes the recognition and integration of Anthroposophic Medicine into healthcare systems globally through policy advocacy, WHO-aligned training frameworks, research publications, and a federated network of national anthroposophic medical associations. The federation supports therapeutic approaches including Mistletoe (Viscum album) therapy for integrative oncology, Anthroposophic Arts Therapies, and Anthroposophic Body Therapies, while facilitating collaboration among member associations, healthcare professionals, policy makers, and international health bodies.

Product overview

IVAA is an international federation promoting Anthroposophic Medicine, which operates as an integrative medicine approach rather than a single product. The organization facilitates access to Anthroposophic Medicine through member associations worldwide, publishes educational materials and research on therapeutic approaches (including WHO Benchmarks for Training), and advocates for policy integration. Key therapeutic offerings include Mistletoe (Viscum album) Therapy for integrative oncology, Anthroposophic Arts Therapies (creative therapies including painting, music, and drama), and Anthroposophic Body Therapies (massage and movement-based approaches). The federation also supports research publications and clinical studies to build the evidence base for these approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anthroposophic Medicine A holistic integrative medicine approach that combines conventional medicine with a holistic concept of health viewing a patient's biography, lifestyle, and psychological and spiritual well-being as factors in health. It is practiced by fully qualified physicians with additional anthroposophic training.
• WHO Benchmarks for Training in Anthroposophic Medicine WHO-published benchmarks that define international standards for training in anthroposophic medicine, providing educational quality and professional development frameworks.
• Mistletoe (Viscum album) Therapy Anthroposophic cancer treatment using European white-berry mistletoe extracts as complements to conventional cancer treatment. Approved in Germany and other countries for subcutaneous adjuvant and palliative treatment of malignant tumour diseases, shown to improve quality of life, reduce fatigue, and potentially improve survival.
• Anthroposophic Arts Therapies Specialized therapeutic practices including painting, drawing, music, singing, modelling, sculpting, speech, and drama. Based on anthroposophy with over 2,000 certified practitioners worldwide, designed to support treatment of acute and chronic conditions, foster self-awareness, and support preventive care.
• Anthroposophic Body Therapies Complementary body-based therapies including movement, massage, and therapeutic baths that gently awaken self-healing processes. Based on anthroposophic medicine's holistic view recognizing body, soul, mind, and spirit as one, fostering resilience and restoring inner balance.
• Anthroposophic Nursing A specialized area of nursing practice recognized by the Federal Nursing Council of Brazil (Cofen) in February 2026. Offers external applications such as therapeutic massage, medicinal baths, and carefully prepared compresses to support patient recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% improvement in survival rates for NSCLC patients when combining mistletoe therapy with immunotherapy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Medical Section of the GoetheanumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Medical Section in Dornach, Switzerland is the international center for Anthroposophic Medicine. It promotes further development of Anthroposophic Medicine through conferences, international postgraduate medical trainings, and coordinates research and training. IVAA collaborates closely with the Medical Section on WHO Benchmarks, position statements, and events.
• TCIH Coalition (Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAA is a sponsoring organization of the TCIH Declaration. The Coalition represents a worldwide community of over 300 civil society organizations dedicated to promoting TCIH as an integral part of healthcare systems. IVAA's Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer is the founding president of the Coalition.
• EUROCAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUROCAM is the EU representation of patients, physicians, practitioners, and veterinarians for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. IVAA is a member of EUROCAM and participates in the MEP Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health through EUROCAM's secretariat support.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAA collaborates with WHO on Traditional Medicine Strategy, including the WHO Benchmarks for Training in Anthroposophic Medicine (2023). Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer serves as a WHO expert and lead author on the upcoming WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034.
• G20 / Gujarat Declaration partnersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAA participated in the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in Gujarat, India (August 2023) and contributed to the Gujarat Declaration and G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration supporting TCIH integration into global health systems.
• MEP Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and HealthstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Parliament Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health provides a forum for discussion and action on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine policy. IVAA participates as a member of EUROCAM which provides the secretariat.
• International Coordination of Anthroposophic Arts Therapies (ICAAT)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVAA collaborated with ICAAT to develop the publication 'Anthroposophic Arts Therapies – Using Creative Arts for Healing and Well-being' as part of the series 'A Look into the Anthroposophic Medical System'.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Council of Nurses (ICN): Long-established international federation of national nursing associations with WHO consultative status. Structurally the closest large-scale analog to IVAA — federating national professional member associations, conducting WHO-aligned policy advocacy, and publishing frameworks for professional practice — but with a much broader scope and headcount.
• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA): Geneva-headquartered international federation representing the global pharmaceutical industry at WHO and other multilateral forums. Operates as a federation of national/regional pharma associations engaging in global health policy advocacy — the same institutional model IVAA uses to advocate for AM within the TCIH policy ecosystem.

Regional players

• Hufelandgesellschaft: Germany's umbrella association for anthroposophic medicine and broader complementary medicine practitioners, and funder of the Holzschuh Prize for Complementary Medicine (2025 awarded to IVAA-affiliated researchers). Comparable in mission (promoting AM/complementary medicine recognition) but national in scope rather than international like IVAA.

Others

• European Public Health Alliance (EPHA): Brussels-based coalition of public health NGOs engaging EU institutions on health policy. Operates in adjacent policy territory to IVAA — supranational health-advocacy coalition — but with a broader public-health rather than TCIH specialization. Useful as a structural parallel for Brussels-anchored NGO coalition advocacy.
• Medical Section of the Goetheanum: Dornach-headquartered international center for Anthroposophic Medicine that develops postgraduate medical training, coordinates research, and co-organizes WHO Benchmarks with IVAA. Not a federation competitor but the closest doctrinal and organizational partner to IVAA within the anthroposophic medical ecosystem.

Direct peers

• World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC): Global federation of national chiropractic associations, with WHO recognized status, a WHO Benchmarks training document, and a similar mission of securing recognition for a specific TCIH discipline within mainstream health systems. Comparable membership-driven, non-commercial international federation operating in the same advocacy ecosystem.
• World Naturopathic Federation (WNF): Global federation of national naturopathic medical associations that operates an almost identical structure to IVAA: federating national professional associations, coordinating WHO engagement, publishing training benchmarks (WHO Benchmarks for Training in Naturopathy), and advocating for integration of a specific TCIH modality into health systems. Highest structural twin in the TCIH federation landscape.
• Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis (LMHI): World medical homeopathic federation, comparable in scope and longevity to IVAA — an international federation of physicians practicing a specific TCIH modality, with WHO engagement, training benchmarks, and advocacy for integration across multiple continents. Its national-chapter structure parallels IVAA's anthroposophic medical federation model.
• EUROCAM: European-level federation representing patients, physicians, practitioners, and veterinarians for traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine. EUROCAM is the most direct peer to IVAA — both advocate for TCIH policy integration via supranational institutions (EU for EUROCAM, WHO/EU/G20 for IVAA) and both operate as coalition-style federations of national associations.

Emerging players

• TCIH Coalition (Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Healthcare): Global coalition of 300+ civil-society organizations advocating for TCIH integration, founded by IVAA's current President. Directly comparable because it pursues the same integrative-medicine integration thesis that IVAA does, but at a broader modality level; IVAA is both a member and the convener's home federation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IVAAmeds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ivaameds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IVAA | International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations