In October 2012, IAPO attended a consultation that WHO held with NGOs to explore the content of a future policy which focused on frameworks for collaboration, consultation and accreditation.

Following the consultation, IAPO consulted its member on the content of a background paper developed by WHO to inform discussions. The results of this consultation form the basis of IAPO’s comments and recommendations on working with WHO. These comments have been shared with WHO and member states delegates. It is IAPO’s firm belief that all aspects of health policy, systems and delivery should be designed around the patient. This is vital, because decisions being made in these processes will ultimately affect patients. Patients must be involved in all aspects of health, not only in their own treatment, but in higher level decision- making processes.

IAPO also made an intervention on this issue at the 132nd session of the World Health Organization Executive Board in January 2013. In the coming months, WHO will be holding further consultations with member states and NGOs to develop this policy. IAPO will keep members informed of any developments as they happen. We encourage IAPO members to share IAPO’s position with their member state officials responsible for international health policy. You can also follow progress of the discussions at www.who.int/civilsociety/en/.

Read IAPO's comments

Read the background paper