World Health Professions Alliance Expands to Include Dentists

GENEVA, Switzerland, 22 August 2005 - The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) is pleased to announce its expansion to include the World Dental Federation (FDI), representing over 900,000 dentists worldwide. In joining the global alliance of nurses, pharmacists and physicians, the FDI will contribute to this dynamic collaboration of health professionals in support of improved and cost effective, quality health care worldwide. The WHPA was founded in 1999 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the World Medical Association (WMA) and represents more than 20 million health professionals worldwide.

"FDI is excited about this new partnership," stated JT Barnard, Executive Director of the World Dental Federation. "By joining other health professionals in the World Health Professions Alliance, we are pooling our resources and expertise in order to tackle key health issues such as health resources planning and tobacco addiction. Effective collaboration among health professionals is key to delivering cost effective and quality health care."

The principle goals of the WHPA are to more effectively represent the interests of patients and the core health professions at the global level, and to facilitate closer collaboration among health professionals at the global, national and local levels. Communication among the four major health professions is vital for the prevention and treatment of illnesses and the strengthening of health policy. The alliance has collaborated on several important initiatives in human rights, patient safety, tobacco control and antimicrobial resistance and will be meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2006 for a Global Forum on Patient Safety.

Oral health has a great impact on quality of life and represents a substantial burden for health care systems and national economies worldwide. Dentists are crucial in the prevention, detection and treatment of chronic diseases, including HIV/AIDS and are often the first to detect signs of illness. Their participation and input in the World Health Professionals Alliance will be vital to all the Alliance's work.

FDI is the authoritative, worldwide voice of dentistry with more than 150 member associations in 134 countries around the world, representing more than 900,000 dentists internationally. Its main roles are to bring together the world of dentistry; to represent the dental profession of the world and to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of information across all borders with the aim of optimal oral health for all people.

Editor's Note:
World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) (www.whpa.org)
The World Health Professions Alliance brings together dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy through their representative international organisations, the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the World Dental Federation and the World Medical Association (WMA) and represents more than 20 million health professionals worldwide.

• The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 126 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.
• The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of the national organisations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. Pharmacists are health professionals dedicated to improving the access to and value of appropriate medicine use.
• The World Dental Federation (FDI) is the authoritative, worldwide voice of dentistry with more than 150 member associations in 134 countries around the world, representing more than 900,000 dentists internationally.
• The World Medical Association (WMA) is the global federation of national medical associations, representing the millions of physicians worldwide. Acting on behalf of physicians and patients, the WMA endeavours to achieve the highest possible standards of medical science, education, ethics and health care for all people.

For further information contact Linda Carrier-Walker
Tel: +41 22 908 0100 Fax: +41 22 908 0101
Email: carrwalk@icn.ch - Website: www.icn.ch