WIP is an international organisation that facilitates the advancement of education in pain medicine. Its activities encompass the provision of specialised practical training and workshops, the organisation of related conferences and seminars, the exchange of practitioners, and the fostering of an international community of experts in the field. The organisation encourages personal and practice growth, offering support to its members through a global network of individuals committed to patient care.
The World Institute of Pain (WIP) was established in 1993 as a global organisation with the objective of advancing the most effective practices in pain medicine for the 21st century. The majority of patients suffering from acute, chronic, and cancer-related conditions are under-represented globally. It is anticipated that the number of individuals suffering from chronic and cancer-related pain will double by the year 2030, coinciding with an increase in the proportion of the population aged 60 and above. It is imperative that pain patients receive specialised and focused care in order to ensure that they receive adequate and continued care which will provide them with comfort and functional improvement in their daily living. It is the role of pain medicine specialists to provide this care.
By means of educational initiatives, including WIP World Congresses, regional symposia and practical workshops on interventional pain practice, WIP assists in the formation of a consensus among experts on the effectiveness of existing techniques and potential avenues for the advancement of therapeutic performance.
WIP’s mission
The mission of the World Institute of Pain (WIP) is to facilitate collaboration between the most esteemed experts in the field of pain medicine from around the globe. This is with a view to advancing and standardising interventional pain practice, and thereby improving standards of care for patients with pain.
WIP fulfils its mission through the sponsorship and endorsement of educational and training programmes for pain physicians. The objective of these programmes is to facilitate the development of practice guidelines and standards for the examination and assessment of competency in physicians who specialise in interventional pain practice.
Goals
The objective is to educate and train personnel of member pain centres by including local hands-on training, international seminars, and the exchange of clinicians. It is also our intention to disseminate the most up-to-date information on pain management to the relevant centres, utilising a variety of channels, including the distribution of a newsletter, the organisation of scientific seminars, the provision of interlined telecommunications, and the publication of a journal and books.
The development of common protocols for efficacy and outcome studies is to be undertaken.
The development of an examination process for pain centres in which to test trainees, and the provision of know-how in the examination process, are also key objectives.
It is recommended that interested industries be encouraged to provide information on pain medicine in each region of the world. Furthermore, it is recommended that local pain physicians and industry representatives be brought together for the purpose of education in new technology and training. Finally, it is recommended that a fellowship-training programme be formulated.
WIP International Sections
In 2007, the World Institute of Pain (WIP) established an international framework of WIP Sections with the objective of promoting and developing the WIP membership network, WIP-endorsed activities, and establishing liaisons with individuals or groups with similar interests in fields related to the best practice of pain management. By virtue of these international Sections and other international networks of pain medicine physicians, WIP is better positioned to realise and enhance the exchange of scientific and clinical management practices in a manner that encourages international goodwill, as well as social and cultural impact. The establishment of regional Sections is encouraged when such Sections would serve to advance the objectives of WIP.
WIP acknowledges the value of formal liaisons with other scientific and professional organisations whose objectives are aligned with its own mission and aims. The Executive Board is authorised to negotiate an executive agreement for liaison with any such organisation, subject to the specific limitations set out in the bylaws. A Regular member of WIP, duly elected by that region, and invited by the WIP President to serve as the official liaison to any such organisation, shall keep the Executive Board informed in writing regularly of all appropriate matters.
Authority to Establish International Sections
The Executive Board of WIP is vested with the authority to regulate the establishment of regional Sections and the associated regulations for this purpose. Individual Section members are required to hold Regular (FIPP) or Associate membership of WIP. The Bylaws of WIP shall be binding on all Sections and their members.
The establishment of international sections is subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The initiation of such sections is permitted exclusively to FIPP certificate holders, contingent upon approval by the Executive Board. The establishment of WIP sections is permitted provided that at least five FIPP certificate holders in that country or region are Regular (FIPP) Members of WIP in good standing who express a desire to form that section.
Officers and Members of the Section
Each Section is required to elect a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer. In the event that a Section is deemed to be sufficiently large to merit the election of additional officers, an additional Vice-Chair from the region may be considered.
The composition of the Section shall be as follows: a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer. In the event that a Section is of sufficient size to justify the election of additional officers, the option of appointing a further Vice-Chair from the region shall be open to the Section. Members of the Section may be either full members who are FIPP certified, or associate members who are potential candidates for FIPP certification.
Membership
The World Institute of Pain (WIP) is uniquely positioned to fulfil its charitable and educational mission and aims through its international Sections. The organisation encourages all Section members to promote membership in WIP among colleagues in their respective countries and throughout their Section. Collectively, the pain physicians who choose to be members of WIP are able to advance the interests of pain medicine through the organisation’s global network.
The voices and efforts of pain physicians around the world are best strengthened, opportunities for educational and scientific programmes specific to pain practice are enhanced, and recognition of pain medicine as a specialty is promoted worldwide through membership of WIP.
English 
Slovak 
Czech