About External Affairs
IFMSA takes active participation in ongoing global processes that are of importance to youth and health professionals, and brings the voice of medical students in international policy, implementation, review and monitoring. Our key advocacy areas are linked to the main internal working topics of the Federation, thus mainly revolves around public health, medical education, sexual and reproductive health, human rights and peace.
The Federation has expressed opinions and concerns on various global issues, calling governments and institutions for action towards them. This is documented within our policy documents, which are voted upon every General Assembly by all the members. After adoption they are carried out to relevant partners, events and institutions by a team of Liaison Officers, with the help of Regional Directors. Their task is to represent IFMSA and its policies within the communication and collaborations with relevant partners or networks, and participation in events and meetings.
IFMSA works in collaboration with various external partners, ranging from student and youth organisations, to professional representatives, networks or alliances. Together we strive to strengthen advocacy on health issues and help find solutions to the processes on the global scale. We participate in creation of policies, toolkits and programmes, focusing not only on the current situations, but also bringing in the vision of the youth today as the professionals of tomorrow.
IFMSA is officially registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) in consultative status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which allows us to participate in the processes of the UN and participate in the General Assembly. IFMSA has also special recognition and collaborations with several UN agencies, such as WHO, UNESCO, UNAIDS and others.
IFMSA is recognised by World Health Organisation as the international voice of medical students and we actively collaborate to ensure the participation of youth in global health governance. We have been closely working together by liaisoning with various departments and working together on issues concerning youth, also having internships in various departments not only in the central headquarters, but in the regional offices as well. Most notably, IFMSA participates in the World Health Assembly, where we have the largest youth delegation, actively engaging in all the main agenda points and events, bringing forward the policies of the Federation and bringing closer the Assembly to the members via big social media presence, ranging from student and youth organisations, to professional representatives, networks or alliances. Together we strive to strengthen advocacy on health issues and help find solutions to the processes on the global scale. We participate in creation of policies, toolkits and programmes, focusing not only on the current situations, but also bringing in the vision of the youth today as the professionals of tomorrow.
IFMSA is officially registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) in consultative status with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which allows us to participate in the processes of UN and participate in the General Assembly. IFMSA has also special recognition and collaborations with several UN agencies, such as WHO, UNESCO, UNAIDS and others.
Advocacy Priorities
In the past few years IFMSA has consolidated its advocacy efforts, since it acknowledges that advocacy and medicine are inseparably intertwined. Discussions at international conferences and reports by eminent organizations have highlighted the ever-increasing need for physicians to be well equipped with advocacy skills. Despite this, medical curricula are generally poor at preparing future doctors in this area. This is why IFMSA is taking the lead.
IFMSA's Policy Documents
It is important to underline that the policies of the Federation are defined by its national members, according to IFMSA democratic and participative principles We use policy statements adopted and revised by national member organizations during our General Assemblies as the official position in different health matters. Our policies come from our roots.
IFMSA's Statements
You may find on this page several statements made on behalf of medical students worldwide in the most recent high-level meetings where the Federation was represented.
IFMSA Partners
IFMSA is proud of its cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders such as UN bodies, NGOs and youth organizations. By supporting IFMSA our institutional partners contribute to developing our activities and projects, exchanging knowledge and experience, and supporting medical students in acquiring leadership skills.