International Hospital Federation announces 81 finalists across eight award categories

/ in E-News, Events

The International Hospital Federation has revealed finalists for its 2025 awards programme, with 81 healthcare organisations from 38 countries competing across eight categories. Winners will be announced at the World Hospital Congress in Geneva in November, recognising excellence in clinical quality, sustainability, and operational performance. A full list of finalists is listed below.

IHF Awards 2025 shortlist reveals global healthcare excellence across 81 finalists

The International Hospital Federation (IHF) has announced the finalists for its prestigious 2025 Awards programme, with 81 healthcare organisations from 38 countries and territories competing across eight categories for recognition of outstanding achievement in hospital leadership and healthcare delivery.

The awards received more than 700 entries this year, marking a significant increase in global participation. For 2025, the programme introduced an eighth category – the Geneva Sustainability Centre Excellence Award for Hospital Sustainability Acceleration – reflecting the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility in healthcare.

Eight award categories recognise diverse healthcare achievements

The competition encompasses the Dr Kwang Tae Kim Grand Hospital Award, which recognises hospitals excelling across five dimensions of healthcare delivery: quality and safety, patient experience, cost efficiency, workforce wellbeing, and health equity and access. Ten hospitals worldwide have been shortlisted for this premier award.

Seven excellence awards complete the programme, each focusing on specific aspects of healthcare delivery. The Dr Prathap C Reddy Excellence Award for Clinical Quality and Patient Safety honours innovative projects enhancing clinical outcomes, whilst the American Hospital Association Excellence Award for Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing recognises initiatives supporting staff welfare.

Operational excellence is acknowledged through the Mastercard Award for Hospital Operational Excellence, and leadership achievements are celebrated via the American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management. Environmental considerations feature prominently with the Ashikaga–Nikken Excellence Award for Low–Carbon Healthcare and the Seddiqi Holding Excellence Award for Social and Environmental Responsibility.

Rigorous judging process ensures award integrity

The evaluation process involved 61 healthcare leaders and senior executives from around the world serving as judges. For the seven excellence awards, entries were assessed against five criteria: originality and innovation, intended impact, adaptability and scalability, scientific rigour, and clarity of presentation.

The Grand Hospital Award employed different criteria, evaluating overall success in achieving the five dimensions of healthcare delivery, alongside sustainability of achievements and demonstrated impact on patient outcomes.

Dr Lawrence Lai, Chair of the IHF Awards Committee, emphasised the calibre of submissions: “The world’s health systems, and their leaders, face mounting pressures – including workforce shortages, financial constraints, climate resilience, and digital transformation – which they must tackle alongside the daunting challenges and need to continually improve clinical quality and patient safety.”

Global representation demonstrates healthcare innovation

The finalist list demonstrates considerable geographical diversity, with hospitals from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania represented. Several countries feature multiple finalists, including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates, indicating strong regional healthcare development programmes.

Notable trends among finalists include increasing adoption of artificial intelligence for operational efficiency, comprehensive sustainability initiatives, and innovative approaches to workforce wellbeing. Many entries demonstrate integration of digital technologies with traditional healthcare delivery methods.

Awards ceremony scheduled for Geneva congress

Winners across all categories will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception on 12 November during the 48th World Hospital Congress in Geneva, Switzerland. The event will bring together more than 300 hospital and healthcare executives from around the globe.

Each category will award Gold, Silver, and Bronze honours, with additional honourable mentions selected from the finalist pool. The recognition provides global visibility for winning organisations and often leads to increased support for their innovative programmes.

The IHF Awards, launched in 2015, have become recognised as the premier international programme honouring hospitals and healthcare organisations. Previous winners have reported significant benefits including enhanced team motivation, increased community support, and additional funding for their recognised projects.

For more information, visit: https://ihf–fih.org/what–we–do/ihf–awards

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Complete List of IHF Awards 2025 Finalists

Dr Kwang Tae Kim Grand Hospital Award:

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
King Khalid Hospital Alkharj, Member of Riyadh First Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia
King Salman Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Indonesia
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, United Arab Emirates
Siena Teaching Hospital, Italy
Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village, Indonesia
Soonchunhyang University Medical Center, South Korea

Dr Prathap C Reddy Excellence Award for Clinical Quality and Patient Safety:

Chi Mei Medical Center, Taiwan – Joyful teamwork, safe patients: Integrating joy in teamwork, safety walkrounds and patient involvement to transform hospital–wide safety culture
Croydon University Hospital, United Kingdom – Opt–out HIV testing in Croydon Emergency Department: Saving lives, reducing healthcare inequalities and tackling stigma
Egypt Healthcare Authority (EHA), Egypt – EHA’s vision for healthcare excellence: Redefining primary care for a healthier future
Evercare Group, Pakistan – The equity in emergency care program (E2CP): A human–centered, data–informed emergency department transformation
Fundacio Aspace Catalunya, Spain – Aspace digital care: A strategic platform and app enhancing equity, coordination and safety for people with complex support needs
King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Saudi Arabia – Transforming chemotherapy safety: A strategic, multidisciplinary bundle of care to eliminate medication errors and improve patient outcomes
National University Hospital, Singapore – Optimizing care in cellulitis patients
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, United Arab Emirates – Transforming the culture of safety at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City from reactive to proactive

American Hospital Association Excellence Award for Healthcare Workers’ Wellbeing:

Al Amal Psychiatry Hospital, Emirates Health Services, United Arab Emirates – Mitigating stress and enhancing reflective practice using Balint groups in the community psychiatry department
Al–Kharj Maternity and Children Hospital, Saudi Arabia – Wellbeing clinic: A mental health resilience program for healthcare workers
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan – Safe care, healthy journey
Chi Mei Medical Center, Taiwan – Creating an empowering nursing workplace through technology and workforce wellbeing
Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Hong Kong – Transforming healthcare workers’ wellbeing in the workplace through digitalisation and mobile HR services
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, India – ACP academic council portal: Journey from paper to portal
King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Saudi Arabia – Transforming healthcare worker wellbeing at KSUMC: Fostering physical and psychological integrity for excellence in patient care
Makati Medical Center, Philippines – N.U.R.T.U.R.E. (Nursing Research Towards Upbuilding Results) initiative
Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia – Parental leave understanding and support (PLUS) program
Saudi German Health (SGH), Egypt – Art therapy at SGH Egypt
University of Pennsylvania Health System, United States of America – New beginnings, lasting impact: How proactive EHR usability training during onboarding fosters provider wellbeing

Mastercard Award for Hospital Operational Excellence:

Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, India – AI–powered discharge prediction: Improving hospital throughput and discharge timings
Emirates Health Services, United Arab Emirates – VTE management: AI solutions for predicting and preventing venous thromboembolism
Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Hong Kong – Adopting telehealth at residential care homes for the elderly during service demand surge
Institute of Mother and Child, Poland – MCSC hospital leadership innovation: Supporting healthcare innovation and collaboration between hospitals, innovators and decision–makers
Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, Philippines – IPCTOHEALYOU project: Unlocking operational excellence with 12 key infection prevention and control strategies
King Salman Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Fast–track admission: Integrating primary care and hospital services at King Salman Hospital
Fondation Santé Service, France – Restructuring the pharmacy of hospital–at–home facility (HAH)
Royal Hospital, Oman – Implementing an electronic document management system to enhance hospital efficiency and communication
Saudi German Hospital Cairo (SGHC), Egypt – Streaming discharge for financial and operational gains with Lean Six Sigma
Saudi Model of Care – Qassim Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia – Expanding and optimising urgent care centres to improve access, efficiency and patient flow
The View Hospital, Qatar – Faster first doses: TATAA program for timely antibiotic delivery in NICU

American College of Healthcare Executives Excellence Award for Leadership and Management:

Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania – Transforming cancer care in Tanzania: The Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP)
Cambridge University Hospitals – NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom – PROFILE trial
Eastern Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia – Transformational leadership in A6 cost–saving initiatives at EHC
Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, Philippines – Reshaping JBLMGH into a people–centred hospital: Journey of a transformative leader
Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), Philippines – Amplifying hope: Leadership in scaling newborn screening success through the NBS regional communication plan
MP Shah Hospital, Kenya – The influence of competency–based leadership on hospital performance
Narayana Health Ltd., India – Advancing safety through a governance framework: Amplifying staff voices and strengthening accountability
National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Indonesia – Pharmaco–invasive strategy for STEMI management in Indonesia (FASTEMI)
Prince Sultan Cardiac Center Qassim (PSCCQ), Saudi Arabia – 4C cardiac care command centre project
Szpitale Pomorskie Ltd in Gdynia, Poland – Out of the box leadership: Change, collaboration and the beehive spirit behind hospital excellence
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan – Reaching the unreachable: Connecting remote communities to quality healthcare through a hybrid referral system

Ashikaga–Nikken Excellence Award for Low–Carbon Healthcare:

Alexandra Hospital, Singapore – Alexandra Hospital’s Go Green program
China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan – Dual–axis transformation for low–carbon healthcare: Digital empowerment and sustainability at CMUH
Department of Health Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Beyond quality: The Emerald Index and Abu Dhabi’s vision for sustainable healthcare
Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Hong Kong – A journey in achieving carbon neutrality
Jubail Health Network, Saudi Arabia – Driving measurable change for a low–carbon future: The Jubail Healthcare Network model
New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital (Built and operated by Chang Gung Medical Foundation), Taiwan – Towards a sustainable future: Smart medical management for zero–carbon healthcare
Northern Sydney Local Health District, Australia – Australia’s first public healthcare blueprint for reaching net–zero emissions across all scopes
Rush University System for Health, United States of America – Creative implementation of low– and no–cost energy efficiency projects to drive hospital decarbonisation and cost savings
Santa Casa da Bahia – Hospital Santa Izabel, Brazil – 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at Hospital Santa Izabel
Sustainability and Green Transformation Unit at Egypt Healthcare Authority, Egypt – Navigating sustainability: Egypt Healthcare Authority’s transformative journey

Seddiqi Holding Excellence Award for Social and Environmental Responsibility:

Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania – Improving lives of victims of burns and violence through equitable access to reconstructive surgery
China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan – Integrated sustainability transformation for rural health and environmental equity: The CMUH model
Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Spain – Mollet University Hospital: Healing people, healing planet
Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia – VerdeVida: A behavioural and sustainability–driven approach to reducing food waste and promoting health
Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba – HOH’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility: Repurposing hospital furniture and donating equipment to local NGOs and communities
Jerzy Gromkowski Regional Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland – Together for health and wellbeing: Community prevention and education through a hospital lens
Jubail Health Network – Eastern Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia – From clinics to communities: Advancing equitable kidney health through responsible outreach
Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden – Striving for system change for greater sustainability outcomes: Karolinska University Hospital’s sustainability programme
Myongji Hospital, South Korea – Building hope and resilience: A rainbow project for children living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Rush University System for Health, United States of America – Environmental and social co–benefits of converting to a local laundry service
Saint Louis University–Sacred Heart Medical Center, Philippines – Water is life: Nurturing and flowing sustainability beyond hospital walls

Geneva Sustainability Centre Excellence Award for Hospital Sustainability Acceleration:

Alexandra Hospital, Singapore – Accelerating Alexandra Hospital’s sustainability with SAT
Changi General Hospital, Singapore – Future–proofing healthcare: Optimising Changi General Hospital’s sustainability while empowering staff and upholding the highest standards of clinical excellence and care
Fujairah Hospital, United Arab Emirates – Fujairah Hospital’s green revolution: Achieving excellence through SAT tool utilisation and attaining LEED Gold and environmental ISO certification
Fundació Sanitària Mollet, Spain – Mollet University Hospital, accelerating sustainability excellence: From insight to impact – a high–maturity journey with the SAT
Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia – The evolution of sustainable surgery at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá
Hospital Fundación Valle del Lili, Colombia – Path taken, future mapped in hospital sustainability with SAT
Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève (University Hospital of Geneva – HUG), Switzerland – Inspiring the sustainable hospital of tomorrow by driving the SAT acceleration pathway
MP Shah Hospital, Kenya – Influence of SAT reporting in carbon zero emission strategy: A case study at MP Shah Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore – Accelerating the green movement at TTSH