Virchow Foundation for Global Health

Company / Organization

The non-profit Virchow Foundation was founded in 2021 with the support of the presidents of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, as well as members of the German Bundestag and civil society, to contribute to improving health worldwide. This purpose is achieved through the joint commitment of highly respected individuals, currently 45 international experts who volunteer their time to the foundation's boards. The Virchow Foundation aims to raise awareness of global health issues among the general public at home and abroad in a targeted and comprehensive manner, thereby contributing to improving global health. It considers health and illness from a holistic perspective and raises awareness of the complex interrelationships between medical, political, economic, and social determinants. The Foundation recognizes the efforts of the United Nations and closely aligns its daily work with them, safeguarding the health of people and the planet through the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In this context, the Virchow Prize for Global Health, awarded annually on the eve of the World Health Summit (WHS), recognizes outstanding lifetime achievements or innovations that have significantly contributed to improving global health and achieving "Health for All." Exceptional individuals or organizations that have made a significant contribution to improving the health of the world's population through scientific, societal, technological, or economic innovations are honored for their commitment and achievements.