International Health Co-operative Organisation (IHCO)
November 1998

The International Health Co-operative Organisation (IHCO) is a specialised organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance.

Its objectives are :

* To provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of issues of relevant to its member organisations;

* Tto provide information to United Nations organisations, national governments, the media and the public about the nature and role of health co-operatives;

* To promote the development of health co-operatives;

* To collaborate with other specialised bodies of the ICA.

Membership is open to organisations that are affiliated either directly or indirectly to the ICA and have as their main objective the provision of health care to their members or the provision of self-employment for health professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.) or the integration of consumers' and producers' co-operatives.

IHCO was founded in November 1996, by UNIMED of Brazil (a co-operative of doctors), JCCU Medical Committee in Japan (a user co-operative) and Espriu Foundation of Spain (an integrated user and provider health co-operative).

The annual membership fee varies from a minimum of CHF 2,000 to a maximum of CHF 17,000.

ICA is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. Founded in 1895, it now has 232 national members in 93 countries, plus four international members.

Chairman:      Dr Shoji Kato
               JCCU Medical Committee
               4-1-13 Sendagaya
               Shibuya-ku
               Tokyo 151
               Japan
               Tel:(81-3) 3497 9177
               Fax:(81-3) 3403 0573

Secretary:     Mr. Mats Ahnlund
               Senior Adviser
               International Co-operative Alliance
               15, rte des Morillons
               1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva
               Switzerland
               Tel:(41-22) 929 88 29
               Fax:(41-22) 798 41 22
               E-mail: members@coop.org