The Ethical Principles in Health Care (EPiHC) were developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and are managed by an independent Secretariat.

The aim is to provide a “compass” to help healthcare actors deal with the challenges of the healthcare landscape and “help providers make a stronger contribution to the lives of their patients, their staff, the environment, and the communities they serve.” Its scope covers private healthcare providers, payors and investors.

The principles are designed to be relevant to all sizes of organisations, business models and geographies. They are designed to guide ethical practice expectations and decision-making, not create specific laws or performance standards. The 10 principles are:

• Respecting Laws and Regulations
• Making a Positive Contribution to Society
• Promoting High-Quality Standards
• Conducting Business Matters Responsibly
• Respecting the Environment
• Upholding Patients’ Rights
• Safeguarding Information and Using Data Responsibly
• Preventing Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying
• Protecting and Empowering Staff
• Supporting Ethical Practices and Preventing Harm

The EPiHC were developed iteratively and involved a diverse group of investors, providers, experts and civil society stakeholders. The intention is for private healthcare providers to voluntarily commit to follow the EPiHC and for investors to expect this of investees.