The International Hospital Federation (IHF) has announced that the 48th World Hospital Congress will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2025 with the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) and the Canton serving as host. The Congress brings together hospital leaders and healthcare system executives to connect around global learning for local action while attracting around 1500 participants each year from more than 90 countries.
The IHF will collaborate with the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) and the Canton of Geneva to host the annual event at the International Conference Centre of Geneva (CICG) from 10 to 13 November 2025. This marks the first time in history that the event is being held in Geneva and is a significant occasion for the IHF as the city is also home to its headquarters. Switzerland has hosted two previous editions of the congress; in Lucerne in 1955, and in Lausanne in 1983.
Following the selection of the host organization, representatives of the HUG will join the organizing committee for the 2025 edition of this event. The Congress brings together hospital leaders and healthcare system executives to connect around global learning for local action. The IHF is the only organization that provides a global forum specifically for leaders and executives to build capacity and foster good practice in the management of healthcare delivery.
Improving the standard, quality, and level of service delivery
The HUG is a stand-alone associate member of the IHF and a long-standing supporter of its mission to promote leadership development, knowledge exchange, and advocacy to improve the standard, quality, and level of service delivery in hospitals and healthcare settings. In addition to holding a seat on the IHF’s Governing Council, the HUG supported the IHF to establish the Geneva Sustainability Centre. The centre provides a global platform for hospitals to evolve as leaders for sustainability in their communities. The HUG has also provided the IHF with office space for its headquarters since 2011.
The IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre will influence the programme
The Congress attracts around 1500 participants each year from more than 90 countries. An announcement about the scientific tracks and abstract submissions for the 2025 Congress will be made in November 2024. The programme will include a stimulating array of plenary and parallel sessions, pre-congress masterclasses, invitational forums, workshops, networking opportunities, local hospital visits, and poster presentations. Participants can also look forward to booking a seat at the IHF Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner – a celebration to recognize outstanding hospital projects, programmes, and services on a global stage.
Sustainability will be integral to the organization and delivery of the 48th World Hospital Congress. The IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre, which supports hospital and healthcare executives leading the transformation to low carbon, resilient, and sustainable healthcare, will influence the programme as one of the core tracks designed by the scientific committee. The organizing committee will also prioritize delivering an environmentally sustainable Congress, which can act as an example to participants for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of events, as well as providing a positive experience to visitors and preserving the local environment for its community.
From innovation to implementation
Innovation will also be a key focus at the 48th edition, with the return of the IHF’s i-to-i Innovation Hub – from innovation to implementation – which was first introduced at the Congress in 2023. The Hub showcases cutting-edge innovations that can demonstrate their impact in transforming hospital and healthcare delivery settings. The Hub will have a bespoke space at the Congress venue, promoting collaboration, and enabling participants to engage directly with the featured innovators.
Source: Geneva Convention Bureau
