The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) is an independent organization established under Swiss law in 1989. IMIA was originally established in 1967 as Technical Committee 4 of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). In 1979, it evolved from a Special Interest Group of IFIP to its current status as a fully independent organization. IMIA continues to maintain its relationship with IFIP as an affiliate organization. IMIA also has close ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a NGO (Non Government Organization), and with the International Federation of Health Information Management (IFHIMA). IMIA is also a Liaison A category organisation in cooperation with ISO (ISO liaison).
The working language of IMIA is English.
The International Medical Informatics Association seeks to grow and nurture a collaborative global Biomedical and Health Informatics community that encourages and supports international initiatives to improve health for all
The mission of the International Medical Informatics Association is to bring people together from around the world to advance biomedical and health informatics science, education, and practice through mutual learning and exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas
The International Medical Informatics Association aims to fulfill its mission and realize its vision through a fourfold financially sustainable strategic platform that focuses on Advocacy, Collaboration, and Membership.
To champion the recognition and growth of the biomedical and health informatics profession with professional and governmental organizations.
To promote the cross-fertilization of health informatics knowledge and skills across academic, professional, and geographical boundaries, while serving as the catalyst for ubiquitous worldwide health information infrastructures for patient care and health research.
To strengthen opportunities for participation in the Association by all members, across all membership categories.
To promote academic and research excellence and to exchange knowledge and evidence to prepare the next generation of health and biomedical informatics researchers and professionals.
IMIA plays a major global role in the application of information science and technology in the fields of healthcare and research in medical, health and bio-informatics. The basic goals and objectives of the association are to:
In its function as a bridge organization, IMIA’s goals are: