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WFC PUBLISHES POSITION STATEMENTS ON GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES AND CLAIMS SUBSTANTIATION.

Toronto, June 9, 2021. The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has approved two new position statements related to public health.

Approved in principle in February and ratified at its meeting last month, the WFC Board unanimously passed the statements, which emphasize the organization's support for globally-accepted scientific and public health practices and the need for claims made by chiropractors to be capable of substantiation.

As a non-state actor (NSA) in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the WFC collaborates with a number of departments and actively advocates for public health initiatives.

In the first of its newly-published position statements, the WFC sets out its clear support for globally-accepted scientific and public health practices, especially those of WHO.

Including reference to its promotion of evidence-based practice, high standards of chiropractic education, patient, community and societal welfare, and public health, the WFC position statement aligns with the WFC Principles, notably Principle #11, which explicitly supports WHO initiatives related to diet and physical activity, healthy ageing, anti-tobacco, injury prevention and infectious disease prevention campaigns.

Meanwhile, the WFC's position in relation to health claims aims to address statements made by chiropractors in their communications in relation to effectiveness, cure or prevention.

Its publication of its position statement on claims made by chiropractors comes amidst a WHO Global Conference on Communicating Science during Health Emergencies, which runs from 7-25 June. Last year, WHO, UN, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNAIDS, ITU, UN Global Pulse, and IFRC issued a joint statement calling on Member States to mitigate the harm caused by misinformation and disinformation. This was followed by a cross-regional statement signed by 132 nations in relation to the COVID-19 infodemic.

An infodemic is a proliferation of information, including false or misleading information, in digital or physical environments during a disease outbreak. Infodemics can cause confusion or risk-taking behaviors that can harm health and lead to mistrust in health authorities and an undermining of the public health response.

Both position statements are accessible on the WFC website:
• Support of globally and scientifically healthcare practices by chiropractors: wfc.org/posn_ph
• Claims of effectiveness, cure or prevention made by chiropractors: wfc.org/posn_claims