English
EspañolThe International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration (ICF) was established in 2014 as a global platform to ensure that relationships across the health ecosystem are grounded in ethical, transparent, and responsible decision-making. It unites six leading health bodies representing patient organisations, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry.
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The new fifth principle focuses on autonomy, data stewardship, and shared accountability in the use of health data. This reflects the growing importance of digital health and AI, and the need for ethical considerations to evolve alongside scientific innovation. It encourages all healthcare stakeholders to prioritise informed consent, protect sensitive data, and ensure technology is used in ways that respect human dignity and uphold patient agency.
The five principles are:
Access the International Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration (English)
The updated Framework is available in four other languages:Endorsement guidelines
Organisations wishing to endorse the Consensus Framework should be able to demonstrate a public commitment to ethical conduct, shared values and promote the Consensus Framework with internal and external stakeholders.
See the Endorsement guidelines here
Further details
This Consensus Framework and the accompanying resources are intended to serve as a toolkit for those associations, groups and alliances who wish to develop their own policies. It neither aims to be comprehensive nor does it constitute a single common policy of the organisations involved. The individual policies of the participating organisations set out each organisation’s detailed commitments and offer more diverse and in-depth information and guidance.