FIP has been in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since it was founded in 1948. As such, over the years FIP has made considerable strides in its partnership with the WHO in order to expand initiatives that evolve FIP’s ultimate goal — improved well-being and health. FIP is in a unique position to advocate for pharmacists’, pharmacy educators’ and pharmaceutical scientists’ roles in the global health agenda.

What is the World Health Organization

The WHO is an intergovernmental agency directing and coordinating international health matters and belonging to the United Nations (UN) family. The WHO acts at global level through its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, at regional level through its Regional Offices (the world is divided to six regions) and at national levels through WHO country offices.

FIP’s strategic alignment with WHO initiatives and advocacy priorities

In 2025, the WHO adopted its 14th Global Health Strategy, formally known as the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14) 2025–2028, setting out a bold agenda to advance health equity, strengthen health systems, and respond to global health challenges such as climate change and health emergencies.

In parallel, FIP released its Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which outlines a transformative vision for the pharmacy profession worldwide, including sustainability, primary health care, equitable access, and workforce development.

The new FIP plan aligns closely with WHO’s GPW14 by supporting its major strategic objectives and translating them into pharmacy‑specific actions that contribute directly to global health priorities.

WHO governing bodies

FIP held the status of “Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Official Relations with WHO”. FIP can therefore speak at the meetings of the governing bodies of the WHO. The highest governing body of the WHO is the World Health Assembly (WHA), held in May, which is the general assembly of member states, represented by their minister of health or other officials. The WHO Executive Board (EB), held earlier in the year around February, consists of 34 countries elected by the WHA, and who sets the agenda for WHA.

FIP annually attends both these meetings and utilises the opportunity to deliver statements on behalf of the global pharmacy profession related to agenda items.

Occasionally, FIP is present at WHO regional meetings to support important agenda items or events.

Technical work with WHO

FIP takes an active part in the technical work of the WHO. FIP represents the priorities of its members worldwide, and works towards utilising their full potential in the right places. Areas of collaboration includes:

• Workforce development and education, including the provision of data on pharmacists as SDG#3 indicator, and gender equity.

• Communicable diseases, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and vaccination.

• Patient safety, including celebrating World Patient Safety Day.

• Health systems, including the Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations, including the Biowaiver project, substandard and falsified (SF) medicines, primary health care (PHC) and self-care.

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs and tobacco cessation.

• Preparedness, surveillance, and response, focussing on pharmacists’ responses to humanitarian needs and climate change.

For example, at the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations, FIP contributes with technical expertise to the review of large number of guidelines relating to quality assurance adopted as international standards.

FIP-WHO publications

Together with the WHO, FIP has produced joint publications on topics including children-specific preparations and good pharmacy practice. Annually, FIP publish a report on its collaboration with WHO as well as on its attendance at the WHA.

FIP representation at the 78th World Health Assembly: Impact and success report	Report on FIP work with the World Health Organization (WHO): September 2024 – July 2025

All publications can be accessed in the FIP Library.

Mark World Health Days with us!

FIP promotes World Health Days organised by the WHO. We invite our members and pharmacists worldwide to join us in this awareness work. Be a catalyst for improvement and help to raise awareness on important topics! FIP also offers resources in a number of areas for which there are World Health Days. These resources are accessible by clicking on the links in the table below.

• 30 January, World Neglected Tropical Disease Day
• 24 March, World Tuberculosis Day
• 7 April, World Health Day
• 25 April, World Malaria Day
• 24–30 April, World Immunisation Week
• 31 May, World No Tobacco Day
• 14 June, World Blood Donor Day
• 28 July, World Hepatitis Day
• 17 September, World Patient Safety Day
• 18-24 November, World AMR Awareness Week
• 1 December, World AIDS Day