NIVEL is the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research. It conducts applied policy research for policy makers in public health care. This research is conducted on the basis of projects for a large number of clients, ranging from government bodies and (umbrella organisations of) health care insurers, to professional groups, health care organisations and patient and consumer organisations. For more information: http://www.nivel.nl

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly. The Health Assembly is composed of representatives from WHO's Member States. The main tasks of the World Health Assembly are to approve the WHO programme and the budget for the following biennium and to decide major policy questions. For more information: http://www.who.int/en

The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a private operating and grantmaking foundation based in New York City that serves as the hub of the Soros foundations network, a group of autonomous foundations and organizations in more than 50 countries. OSI and the network implement a range of initiatives that aim to promote open societies by shaping government policy and supporting education, media, public health, and human and women's rights, as well as social, legal, and economic reform. OSI was founded in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros to support his foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Those foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help former communist countries in their transition to democracy. The Soros foundations network has expanded its geographic reach to include foundations and initiatives in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, Turkey, and the United States. OSI also supports selective projects in other parts of the world. For more information: http://www.soros.org

The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region, ASPHER, is an independent organisation in Europe dedicated to strengthening the role of public health through the training of public health professionals for both practice and research. ASPHER was founded 36 years ago and has more than 60 institutional members. ASPHER is an associate member of EUPHA and EUPHA is an associated member of ASPHER. For more information: http://www.aspher.org/




The World Federation of Public Health Associations is an international, nongovernmental organisation bringing health workers throughout the world together for professional exchange, collaboration, and action. Its members, currently numbering 64, are multidisciplinary national and regional public health societies. Founded in 1967, WFPHA is the only worldwide professional society representing and serving the broad field of public health, as distinct from single disciplines or occupations. EUPHA is a regional member of the WFPHA. For more information: www.wfpha.org





The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), created in 1993, is a network of local, national, European and international non-governmental organisations and other not-for-profit-organisations active in promoting health. The alliance brings together a broad range of European citizens organisations with an active interest in creating a healthier Europe. For more information: www.epha.org




The European Health Management Association, EHMA, is the European network which seeks to improve health through better management. The Association is a bridge-building organisation - creating links between countries; between academia and practising managers; between managers, doctors and nurses; and between specialist managerial areas. It focuses on all aspects of healthcare management. For more information: www.ehma.org



The International Union for Health Promotion and Education, IUHPE, is the only global organisation entirely devoted to advancing public health through health promotion and health education. The IUHPE is a leading global network working to promote health worldwide and contribute to the achievement of equity in health between and within countries. It draws its strength and authority from the qualities and commitment of its diverse network of members, and it has an established track record in advancing the knowledge base and improving the quality and effectiveness of health promotion and health education practice Members range from government bodies, to universities and institutes, to NGOs and individuals across all continents. For more information: www.iuhpe.org





EACH is an interdisciplinary non-profit organisation which brings together researchers and teachers in the field of communication in health care. Its objectives are to facilitate the exchange of ideas and teaching and research activities within a network of individuals and institutions in Europe. EACH is associated with the scientific journal Patient Education and Counseling.




Based in Brussels, the European Heart Network (EHN) is an alliance of member organisation including heart foundations and other non-governmental heart health organisations committed to the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe. The mission of the European Heart Network is to play a leading role through networking, collaboration and advocacy in the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) so that it will no longer be a major cause of premature death and disability throughout Europe. For more information: www.ehnheart.org

The Evaluation Network on Drug European Policies (ENDEP) was created in December 1994. The general aim is to develop evaluation research projects in order to analyse the impacts of various governmental policies in the field of cost containment for pharmaceutical care. The network relies on modern electronic communication systems and combines various national evaluation studies of country specific drug policies with a European cooperation effort and policy process at an international level, involving various European partners. For more information: www.endep.org






The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with 100 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system. For more information: http://www.paho.org