WHO Collaboration
As a global organisation, the ILDS advocates for dermatological issues at the highest levels. Through collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in various project areas such as International Classification of Diseases, Essential Medicines, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Occupational Health, Ageing and Life Course, and Emerging Infections, the ILDS strengthens its commitment to improving global skin health.
2023 Activities
In 2023, the ILDS attended the 76th World Health Assembly, as well as successfully hosted a side meeting on Diseases of the Skin in collaboration with the Anesvad Foundation, supported by WHO. This event built on the momentum generated by the WHO's inaugural global meeting on skin-related neglected tropical diseases in March 2023, reemphasising the ILDS’ commitment to achieving Skin Health for All.
The ILDS put forward an application to include Methotrexate for psoriasis on the complementary list of the Essential Medicines List (EML) and Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc); this application was successful. We also remain relentless in our efforts to secure the inclusion of a biological on the WHO essential medicines, for the treatment of severe psoriasis.
In October 2023, the ILDS supported the first joint meeting of global atlases, Global Psoriasis Atlas (GPA), Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas (GADA), Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA), and Global Vitiligo Atlas (GLOVA), held at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) conference in Berlin, Germany, consolidating the efforts of the ILDS in this critical area and commitment to collaborative endeavours geared towards advancement of global dermatology research and care.
Aligned with ILDS' dedication to capacity building, we continue to collaborate with the WHO in strengthening healthcare systems, involving knowledge sharing, resource collaboration, and active contribution to OpenWHO NTD Courses, specifically those focused on advancing skin health. Additionally, in 2023 the ILDS provided administrative and technical capacity support to the WHO NTD Department through an ILDS-WHO Intern. The ILDS also supported the Skin NTD summit hosted by NTD NGO Network (NNN) Skin Cross-Cutting Group (NNN SCCG) in Dar es Salaam in September 2023.
Within the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) project area, the ILDS continues to actively explore the integration of ICD-11 with other dermatological textbooks and platforms, including the ILDS website.
ILDS is pursuing the recognition of occupational skin cancer by UV exposure as an occupational disease. This effort is supported by an ongoing survey of ILDS members on UV radiation, which aims to provide tangible data to support the initiative.
The successful publication of the scoping review protocol, “Improving skin health of community-dwelling older people: a scoping review protocol”, is a significant milestone in our collaborative work within the Ageing and Life Course project area. The comprehensive scoping review is currently being reviewed for publication by the British Journal of Dermatology. This accomplishment represents a significant step towards tangible improvements in dermatological care for the elderly, with the potential to positively impact their well-being.
Within the area of Emerging Infections, due to a current outbreak of drug resistant dermatophytes, the AAD/ILDS COVID-19 MPox and Emerging Infections Registry is being expanded to include a drug resistant and dermatophyte arm. This proactive measure is intended to strengthen the registry's capacity to address and monitor the evolving challenges posed by this specific infectious threat.
Building on these achievements, the ILDS will maintain its positive collaborative relationship with the WHO and pursue its mission of increasing awareness, cooperation, and communication within the global dermatology community in order to promote high-quality education, clinical care, research, and innovation that will improve skin health globally.