ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the involvement of key international organisations in developing health cooperatives. It focuses on the International Cooperative Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The WHO, established in 1946 under the United Nations, owes its formation and Constitution to the influential contributions of Dr Andrija Štampar, a pioneer in health cooperatives. The United Nations has consistently acknowledged the importance of partnering with the international cooperative movement, as evident from the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, supporting the cooperative movement’s role in socio-economic development. The ILO also recognises the significance of cooperatives and adopted the Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, providing a framework for their promotion and creating an enabling environment. The ILO’s strategy is geared towards achieving universal access to healthcare and improving social health protection systems, mainly focusing on the care sector, where better working conditions and protection for care workers are essential. The International Health Cooperative Organisation plays a pivotal role in raising awareness about the cooperative business model in healthcare and advocating for high-quality services.
