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What's an NPI ?

These are methods targeted at a known health issue in Western medicine that are EXPLICABLE, EFFECTIVE, SAFE, and SUPERVISED by trained professionals. These physical, nutritional, and psychosocial practices complement other health solutions...

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The NPIS Registry: why ?

The NPIS Model standardized scientific framework is used to identify NPI that are explainable, effective, safe and reproducible, based on published studies. An independent, rigorous assessment process coordinated by the scientifc society NPIS and verifiable by all health authorities...

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Who is this platform for?

I am a citizen, a patient, a caregiver or a professional on a first visit

I will be able to easily find information on interventions that are actually INMs. I will also be able to provide feedback on usage. If I want to go further, I will be directed to the conditions for accessing all the data and features of the INM Repository.


I am a healthcare professional wishing to access all INM files

I will be able to find complete information on INM protocols to deepen my knowledge and practices. I will be able to provide feedback on use.


I am a representative of an authority, institution or organization related to health

If my practice organization is a partner of the NPIS, I will be able to access all the data and functionalities of the INM Repository.


I would like to submit a proposal for a new INM in the Repository

If my project meets the definition of an INM and if it is sufficiently supported by scientifically conducted studies, I will be directed to a form which will allow me to write the INM file relating to my project.


I am an expert selected under the INM file validation procedure

If I have received an email from NPIS accrediting me as an Expert in a defined field, I will be able to register to participate in the expert procedure for which I have been requested.


Become a Submitter

We are calling for applications to submit NPI sheets: Cliquez ici

NPIS Questions and Answers

What is a prototypical study?

Before evaluating an NPI, it is essential to describe it. Sometimes, health practices may involve a combination of diagnostic methods and treatments, as seen in osteopathy. An NPI is not intended to identify or diagnose a health problem; rather, it serves as a preventive or therapeutic solution to address it, sometimes in conjunction with other treatments. A common confusion lies in distinguishing between an NPI and an approach or technique. An approach is too vague and does not accurately describe the content of the NPI, while a technique is too specific, representing only one ingredient of an NPI. A prototypical study allows for the comprehensive description of all characteristics of an NPI, including its health objectives, target population, mechanisms of action, content, implementation context, and the prerequisites for the professional involved.

Why choose the term "professional" instead of "practitioner" in the definition of NPI?

In France, the term "professional" is broader than the term "practitioner," which is limited to the 24 healthcare professionals defined in the Public Health Code (CSP). For example, a clinical psychologist and a teacher in adapted physical activity (APA) are professionals who work for the health of individuals by offering NPI for preventive or therapeutic purposes, but they are not considered "health professionals" in the strict sense of the CSP. Some professions fall under the Social Action and Families Code (e.g., specialized educator) or the Sports Code. In Europe and worldwide, the issue becomes more complex because health-related professions do not share the same designations. For instance, "masseur-kinésithérapeute" in France is referred to as "physiotherapist" in most other countries. NPI can serve as common denominators across countries, as they will have a unique code and specification sheet.

Why did this innovation start in France?

The NPIS Model is part of the French strategy for global health research and innovation for 2023-2027. This strategy aims to address issues of equity and solidarity, increase commitment to disease prevention and health promotion, and better account for the interdependencies between climate change, ecosystem protection, and health (France Government, 2023). France has also established an Agency for Health Innovation and a €7.5 billion investment plan through 2030 (Agency for Health Innovation, 2021). The Agency aims to anticipate the impacts of innovations on the prevention and care system, foster cooperation between public and private actors, and identify research priorities (Agency for Health Innovation, 2021). This development relies on a central institution in France for research and health matters, INSERM (2024). The NPIS Model, which was created with the support of seed funding for participatory research from INSERM, facilitates the effective and rapid transfer of innovations in NPI from fundamental research to practice. The decade-long strategy for supportive care published in 2024 further amplified the need for a standardized evaluation model for NPI (France Government, 2024).

Why establish a unique evaluation model for NPI?

A scientific validation model for medications has existed since the 1960s, with specific regulations recognized worldwide (e.g., FDA, EMA, ANSM). A similar procedure has recently been implemented for medical devices in Europe. However, until now, no consensual model existed for nutritional, bodily, and psychosocial health services due to confusions between approach, protocol, and technique/ingredient. A participatory, pragmatic, and multidisciplinary consensus work followed international scientific health recommendations to address this for NPI (Ninot et al., 2023).

This work took into account the specificities of NPI, health risks, the balance between internal and external validity, the justification of explanatory mechanisms, ethical considerations in health, and respect for contexts of use. The NPIS Model accelerates research through the harmonization of methodological and ethical expectations in NPI. It also enhances the identification, referencing, transferability, and implementation of NPI for the benefit of user health and safety, improving the quality of training.

Ultimately, the NPIS Model distinguishes between individualized, science-based services aimed at addressing known health issues in Western medicine and occupational practices (lifestyle, art of living, work, sociocultural activity, personal development, pursuit of happiness, spiritual practice, etc.). In this sense, the model does not impede individuals' freedom to choose a particular lifestyle. It aims to address a specific health issue for an individual or a group of people within a limited timeframe and a framework regulated by the health sector. The NPIS Model encourages innovations across all other health sectors, particularly in health organizations and early identification actions for health problems.

Are NPI just simple recipes to apply?
NPI are protocols to be implemented with a target population, but they are merely specifications. They must be contextualized and personalized. The NPI Registry offers best practices and tips for optimal implementation. Furthermore, the NPIS recommends interdisciplinary training in health ethics for their application. The scientific society works with its partners to develop and recognize this foundational training, which could be conducted particularly in higher education institutions in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. This ethical training includes all the prerequisites of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for interprofessional practice in health. Health professionals with practical experience, such as doctors, will have equivalencies.
What is the NPIS roadmap until 2030?

The NPIS has outlined a roadmap from 2021 to 2030 aligned with the strategies of European and international health institutions. To this end, it has initiated discussions with the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), involved in health service innovation, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which is planning to create a registry, the European Commission, which aims to promote "health, nutrition, mental health, and psychosocial support to communities," and WHO Europe, which intends to identify the "most effective health interventions" by 2030. The NPIS submitted several European projects in 2024.

The NPIS is also engaging with WHO, which has advocated for "self-care interventions" since 2022, included NPI in its Global Action Plan for Mental Health published in 2022, and identified "the most effective and feasible interventions in a national context" in a report published in 2021. Additionally, it is collaborating with other international organizations such as UNESCO, which has promoted "specific health and well-being education interventions" since 2016, UNICEF, which has advocated for sharing "effective health interventions" since 2016 and developing "primary healthcare" since 2018, the UN, which has called for "accelerating essential health services" since 2023, and the Coalition of Partnerships for Universal Health Coverage and Global Health, advocating for "people-centered, comprehensive, and integrated services" since 2021.

Thus, an ecosystem for NPI, from research to practice through training and delivery, is being constructed, with NPIS actively participating. It involves all stakeholders, both academic and non-academic, to create a true value chain benefiting personalized and precision medicine based on science, sustainable health, and equitable longevity. With over 2.1 billion people aged over 60 by 2050, multistakeholder collaborations will be the foundation of a sustainable and equitable longevity economy.

This is why forums on NPI have been organized since 2024 in France and Europe, called NPIS Forum. An international summit titled NPIS Summit takes place every year in October, and regional events called NPIS Satellite gather professionals and users around a health theme.

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