IOMP was formed in January 1963 initially with 4 affiliated national member organizations.

The Organization has a membership of 86 national member organizations, 1 affiliate and 6 regional organizations.

The Organization is affiliated to IUPESM, IUPAP and ICSU and is officially connected to IFMBE.

IOMP is charged with a mission to advance medical physics practice worldwide by disseminating scientific and technical information, fostering the educational and professional development of medical physics and promoting the highest quality medical services for patients. Information on IOMP activities, development priorities, and external relations are given in her strategic policy document Review and Way Forward of IOMP.

IOMP works together with International Organizations such as IAEA, WHO and ILO to strengthen the role of Medical Physicists. ILO has recently classified medical physicists as a profession in the International Standard Classification of Occupations-08 (ICSO-08) under physics and astronomy, which is an important reference document for governments for the recognition and classification of occupations.

IOMP collaborates with professional bodies such as IRPA and ICRP and international organizations such as WHO and IAEA in promoting the development of medical physics and safe use of radiation and radiological equipment technology.

IOMP is collaborating with professional organizations in the development of a professional certification system for medical physicists that can be implemented on a global basis. To provide guidance on the education, training and professional development of medical physicists, IOMP is publishing some policy documents on such issues.

IOMP together with IFMBE and IUPESM organize the World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (World Congress) once every three years. IOMP also organizes the International Congress of Medical Physics (ICMP) which is held between World Congresses. IOMP provide travel support to medical physicists from developing countries to attend these meetings.