Geneva set to host prestigious 48th World Hospital Congress in 2025
The International Hospital Federation (IHF) has announced that the 48th edition of its flagship World Hospital Congress will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 10 to 13, 2025.
The event, which draws around 1,500 participants from over 90 countries annually, will be hosted at the International Conference Centre of Geneva (CICG) in collaboration with the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) and the Canton of Geneva, marking the first time the Congress is being held in the city.
Global forum for hospital leaders
The World Hospital Congress serves as a global forum for hospital leaders and healthcare system executives to exchange knowledge, foster best practices, and build capacity in healthcare delivery management. The 2025 Congress will be particularly significant for the IHF, as Geneva is also home to its headquarters.
The HUG, a long-standing associate member of the IHF and a staunch supporter of its mission, will play a pivotal role in organizing the event. The hospital has provided the IHF with office space since 2011 and holds a seat on its Governing Council. Additionally, the HUG has supported the establishment of the IHF’s Geneva Sustainability Centre, which aims to position hospitals as leaders in sustainable practices within their communities.
Ronald Lavater, CEO of the IHF, commented: “It’s a great honour to be able to bring our World Hospital Congress to Geneva for the first time. This could not have been possible without the support of the outgoing Director general of HUG and board member of the IHF, Bertrand Levrat. Bertrand championed our proposal and gained strong support from the HUG, the Canton of Geneva, and Geneva Convention Bureau, which made it possible. The HUG is an active member within H+ Swiss Hospitals, the IHF’s full national member. We look forward to working with all of these Swiss organizations to bring to our home city an outstanding World Hospital Congress.”
Sustainability will be a central theme at the 48th Congress, with the Geneva Sustainability Centre influencing the programme’s core tracks designed by the scientific committee. The organizing committee will also prioritize delivering an environmentally sustainable event, serving as an exemplar for participants in reducing the carbon footprint of such gatherings.
i-to-i Innovation Hub to showcase cutting-edge innovations
Innovation will also take centre stage, with the return of the IHF’s i-to-i Innovation Hub, which showcases cutting-edge innovations demonstrating their impact in transforming hospital and healthcare delivery settings. The Hub will have a dedicated space at the Congress venue, promoting collaboration and enabling participants to engage directly with featured innovators.
The scientific programme for the 2025 Congress will feature 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 the IHF Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, which recognizes outstanding hospital projects, programs, and services on a global stage.
With the HUG’s deep commitment to global knowledge exchange and sustainability in the healthcare sector, the 48th World Hospital Congress in Geneva promises to be a landmark event, fostering collaboration and advancing shared global goals in healthcare.
Established in 1929, the IHF is a global not-for-profit, non-governmental membership organization. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IHF is the global voice of hospitals and health systems. The IHF provides its members with a platform for knowledge exchange and networking with different actors in the health sector, to improve the standard, quality, and level of service delivery. https://www.ihf-fih.org/
