Jerome E. Bickenbach, PhD, Joel A. DeLisa, Per M. von Groote, Christoph Gutenbrunner, Andrew J. Haig, Marta Imamura, MD, PhD, Leonard S. W. Li, John L. Melvin, Jan D. Reinhardt, and Gerold Stucki
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-1

This special issue, with 6 chapters, analyses the role of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation
Medicine (ISPRM) against the background of international issues in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) and rehabilitation at large.
Since its foundation in 1999 ISPRM has established a central office, a membership structure, relations with official journals, and has held a number of successful PRM world congresses. Most importantly, ISPRM has entered into official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) (chapter 1). ISPRM is now challenged by a number of issues restricting the future growth of the society and its evolution into a professional non-governmental organization (NGO) actively shaping international policies in rehabilitation (chapter 2).
The basis for this evolution is a clear understanding of
ISPRM’s political role in world health. This entails the re­cognition of ISPRM’s humanitarian, scientific, and professional mandate and its position in world society and health policy (chapter 3). Consequently, a structured policy process and a set of suitable policy tools for goal selection, agenda setting, resource mobilization, implementation, evaluation and innovation appear useful (chapter 4). Moreover, ISPRM may consider modifying its organizational structures and procedures in order to enhance its effectiveness, accountability and legitimacy (chapter 5).
A thorough review of these issues leads to a comprehensive policy agenda for ISPRM, as presented in the final chapter (chapter 6).