Geneva to host the International Hospital Federation (IHF) World Hospital Congress in 2025

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 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 on from the selection of the host organization, representatives of the HUG will join the organizing committee of 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.

Ronald Lavater, CEO of the IHF, explained the NGO’s strong ties to Geneva :“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. Betrand championed our proposal and gained strong support from the HUG, the Canton of Geneva, and Geneva Tourism 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.” 

Alain Kolly, HUG Acting director general, declared: “The HUG is deeply honoured to be hosting its fellow pioneering healthcare institutions, from the IHF family and beyond. The 2025 IHF Congress will allow participants to discover not only our local expertise but also the synergies we have developed, both locally and internationally. 

Alain-Dominique Mauris, President of the HUG Executive board added: “The University Hospital of Geneva has a legacy of nurturing networks and collaborations. Its deep commitment to global knowledge exchange and sustainability in the healthcare sector underpins our vision for the organization of this event with IHF and our national partners.”

Geneva Minister for Health and Mobility, Pierre Maudet observed: “Geneva is home to over 40 international organisations and 400 NGOs and its ability to forge impactful partnerships on a global scale is renowned. Geneva is excited to welcome the IHF Congress and thus contribute to further advancing shared global goals in healthcare."

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 January 2025. 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 program 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.