The International Health Cooperative Organisation (IHCO) has elected Eudes de Freitas Aquino as president.

Dr Aquino has been involved in the Brazilian co-operative movement for more than 30 years and is currently president of Unimed, the world’s largest health co-op.

IHCO’s board met in Brazil in March to elect a new president after the death of José Carlos Guisado, who had presided over the organisation for more than 15 years.

The board also appointed Carlos Zarco from the Espriu Foundation as vice president and Ricardo López from the Argentine health co-operatives as board project coordinator.

The meeting allowed board members to review the action programme for 2017 and approve the budget for the year. They also explored measures to consolidate the organisation and boost growth by welcoming new members.

IHCO is a sectoral body of the International Co-operative Alliance aiming to represent health co-ops around the world. The meeting featured representatives from health co-ops in Brazil, Argentina, Japan and Spain.