World Health Professions Alliance

What World Health Professions Alliance does

The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is a Geneva-headquartered non-profit coalition formed in 1999 that brings together the five global bodies representing the world's dentists (FDI World Dental Federation), nurses (International Council of Nurses), pharmacists (International Pharmaceutical Federation), physiotherapists (World Physiotherapy), and physicians (World Medical Association). Through 735 national member organizations, WHPA speaks for approximately 47 million health professionals across 179 countries and territories and operates as the only alliance convening all five major health professions at the global level. Its mission is to improve global health and patient care by facilitating interprofessional collaboration and presenting a unified voice on health policy, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization and the World Health Assembly.

WHPA's deliverables are advocacy-driven rather than technology-driven. Core offerings include the Modified Health Improvement Card (mHIC) and NCD Action Toolkit for non-communicable disease prevention (available in English, Chinese, Thai, and Mongolian), the Stand Up for Positive Practice Environments campaign addressing the projected 18 million health worker shortfall by 2030, the Substandard and Falsified Medicines campaign, the Interprofessional Collaborative Practice programme, and an open letter on safeguarding healthcare in conflict zones that has gathered signatures from health professionals in over 76 countries. The organization also convenes biennial events including the Leadership Forum and (previously) the World Health Professions Regulation Conference, currently suspended pending a new strategy, and publishes a quarterly newsletter via Mailchimp.

WHPA generates no commercial revenue. Its activities are funded by contributions from its five member organizations and by grants tied to specific advocacy initiatives. The November 2022 Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organization formalized collaborative work on health workforce investment, and WHPA members hold permanent official relations with WHO, granting direct access to global health governance forums. Leadership is currently provided by Chair Catherine Duggan, who also serves as CEO of the International Pharmaceutical Federation, with each member organization's president and CEO participating in WHPA governance.

Name

World Health Professions Alliance

Legal name

World Health Professions Alliance

Website

https://whpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The World Health Professions Alliance is a Geneva-based non-profit coalition formed in 1999 that unites the global bodies representing dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and physicians, speaking for 47 million health professionals across 179 countries through 735 national member organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Professional Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Global health advocacy
• Health workforce policy
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Non-communicable diseases
• Health professional regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WHPA coordinates global advocacy and policy collaboration on behalf of 47 million health professionals across dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and medicine. It produces downloadable advocacy toolkits (such as the Modified Health Improvement Card and NCD Action Toolkit), policy statements and press releases, and convenes biennial forums and conferences in conjunction with the WHO World Health Assembly. The alliance does not sell commercial products; its outputs are advocacy resources, educational toolkits, newsletters, and policy positions distributed free of charge to member organizations, governments, and the public.

Product overview

The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is not a technology product company but rather a coalition of five global health professional organizations (FDI World Dental Federation, FIP International Pharmaceutical Federation, ICN International Council of Nurses, World Physiotherapy, and WMA World Medical Association) representing 47 million health professionals in 179 countries. WHPA's offerings consist primarily of advocacy campaigns, educational toolkits, and professional resources. Key products include the Modified Health Improvement Card (mHIC) for NCD prevention, the NCD Action Toolkit, the Positive Practice Environments campaign materials, and advocacy initiatives like the Open Letter on Healthcare in Conflict. The organization also organizes the Leadership Forum and World Health Professions Regulation Conference events, and publishes a regular newsletter. WHPA does not offer a software platform or digital product—its resources are primarily PDF documents, campaign materials, and event programming focused on policy advocacy and professional collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Modified Health Improvement Card (mHIC) A two-page downloadable tool that supports positive behavior and lifestyle changes to reduce and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It identifies risk factors, suggests target actions, and helps individuals track progress. Available in English, Chinese, Thai, and Mongolian. Targeted at individuals and patients working with health professionals.
• NCD Action Toolkit A downloadable comprehensive toolkit developed in 2011 to reduce non-communicable diseases. It bundles the Modified Health Improvement Card with two supporting manuals—one for patients with background information on NCD risk factors, and one for health professionals on how to use the tool with patients. Targeted at health professionals and the public.
• WHPA Newsletter A subscription-based email newsletter providing periodic updates on WHPA activities, advocacy efforts, and the latest news on global health professional issues. Distributed via Mailchimp every couple of months. Targeted at health professionals, policymakers, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47 million health professionals represented globally
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2022Historic Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2022 between the five WHPA member organizations and WHO. The MoU outlines a collaborative approach to investing in the health workforce and emphasizes shared goals between the organizations. WHPA members are all in official relations with WHO, enabling participation in the World Health Assembly and other WHO governance processes.
• Health Care in Danger (HCID) Project - International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHPA participates in the Health Care in Danger project, an initiative of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement aimed at addressing violence against patients, health workers, facilities and vehicles, and ensuring safe access to and delivery of health care in armed conflict and other emergencies.
• FDI World Dental Federation (FDI)coreOthersPrincipal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide with membership comprising 190 national dental associations in about 134 countries. Serves as one of five founding member organizations of WHPA.
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)coreOthersGlobal federation of national organisations representing 5.5 million pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and pharmaceutical educators around the world. Serves as one of five founding member organizations of WHPA.
• International Council of Nurses (ICN)coreOthersFederation of more than 140 national nurses associations, representing more than 30 million nurses worldwide. Serves as one of five founding member organizations of WHPA.
• World PhysiotherapycoreOthersGlobal body for 128 physiotherapy member organisations, representing more than 685,000 physiotherapists. Serves as one of five founding member organizations of WHPA.
• World Medical Association (WMA)coreOthersInternational organisation representing more than 10 million physicians with its membership of 118 national medical associations. Serves as one of five founding member organizations of WHPA.
• International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79, supporting the draft strategy on economics of health for all.
• Women in Global HealthsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79, supporting health workforce investment initiatives.
• International Society of NephrologysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79.
• International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79.
• World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79.
• World Federation of Societies of AnaesthesiologistssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSignatory to WHPA constituency statements at WHA79.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Health Organization: The UN specialized agency for health with which all WHPA members hold official relations. Comparable because it is the central global-health policy body that WHPA targets through advocacy and with which WHPA signed a 2022 MoU on workforce investment.

Direct peers

• World Medical Association: One of WHPA's five founding member organizations, representing 10 million physicians via 118 national medical associations. Comparable as a global health-profession membership body operating in international advocacy, policy, and ethics.
• International Council of Nurses: One of WHPA's five founding members, a federation of 140+ national nurses associations representing 30 million nurses. Comparable as a global professional membership body pursuing policy influence and advocacy on workforce and patient-care issues.
• FDI World Dental Federation: One of WHPA's five founding members and host of WHPA's Geneva headquarters (c/o FDI). Comparable as a global membership federation for the dental profession engaged in advocacy, policy, and congress programming.
• International Pharmaceutical Federation: One of WHPA's five founding members, representing 5.5 million pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists and educators. Comparable as a global pharmacy profession federation engaged in advocacy, workforce policy, and practice standards.
• World Physiotherapy: One of WHPA's five founding members, representing 685,000 physiotherapists via 128 member organizations. Comparable as a global health-profession membership body focused on advocacy, policy, and professional standards.
• NCD Alliance: A global umbrella of civil-society organizations focused on non-communicable disease policy advocacy. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder health advocacy alliance that convenes member organizations around shared policy positions at WHO and the UN.
• Global Health Council: A membership-based advocacy organization for the global health community operating in Washington, DC. Comparable as a membership-driven body that convenes diverse health organizations to influence global health policy and funding.
• World Federation of Public Health Associations: An international federation of national public-health associations. Comparable as an umbrella organization aggregating national member bodies to advocate for workforce, policy, and public-health priorities at the global level.

Emerging players

• International Hospital Federation: A global membership organization for hospitals and healthcare organizations focused on health-services policy and management. Comparable as a complementary global health-systems stakeholder that engages WHO on workforce and quality-of-care issues overlapping WHPA's remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WHPAlliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4oulr-YywibllLCgR7SRcw/featured?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/WorldHealthProfessionsAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-health-professions-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Health Professions Alliance