The Belgian Government supported the practical development of this concept and the first International Congress of Military Medicine and Pharmacy was held in July 1921 in Brussels, Belgium, in presence of King Albert I.

Since its founding, ICMPM has always gathered military Health Services from all political blocs, in uniform, including during the Cold War.

On 21 May 1952, an agreement of cooperation was signed with the World Health Organization (WHO) which recognised the committee as an "international body specialised in medico-military matters".

New ICMM Statutes, revised in line with modern-day policies, were voted in at the General Assembly held in Beijing, China, in 1996.

[2] The main objective of the ICMM is to ensure that our medical services personnel have the means to work together, using similar practices, in operations involving international cooperation.

This will enable the pooling of resources and work experience of military medicine, both in the theatre of operations and in a support role in the case of crisis situations.

[citation needed] In addition to the annual World Congress of the International Committee of Military Medicine, the ICMM organises regional congresses, including the Pan-Asia Pacific, Pan-American, Pan-African, Pan-European, Maghreb and Pan-Arab Regional working groups.

These agreements provide for cooperation with medical services of member states in order to detect and respond to major epidemics posing a global threat to public health.

Only the political power of each member state can change ICMM recommendations into rules applicable to its own Armed Forces.

He is at the head of the ICMM legislative branch by supervising the General Assembly's work during the World Congress in his country.