Hippokrates was launched under the auspices of EURACT by Dr Per Kallestrup (Denmark) in the year 2000 at the 6th European Conference on General Practice & Family Doctors (WONCA Europe) in Vienna, Austria.

In the pilot phase of the programme there were 5 participating countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom

Since its inception new participating countries have joined and more are still joining as the programme expands. Currently the programme offers 21 participating National Exchange Co-ordinators within Europe (see 'Membership' section).

National Exchange Co-ordinators are appointed by the national Vasco da Gama Movement Council Representative, who in turn is selected through the country's national college of family medicine / general practice.

In the participating countries a number of General Practitioners and their Practices have been selected to be Host Practices. These practices are the cornerstones of the programme inviting visiting Medical Doctors specialising in Family Medicine from the other participating countries.