Our Committees

Our Committees provide the main source of support, expertise and guidance for the WFSA’s programmes and activities. They are essential to delivery and commit thousands of hours of volunteer time to the WFSA every year.

Members must be experts in the area of interest to their Committee and be committed to the mission of the Federation. They serve up to two consecutive four (4) year periods between General Assemblies and, in exceptional circumstances, may serve a third term as the Chair of a Committee.

Safety & Quality of Practice Committee

The function of this Committee is to promote the highest standards of safety and quality in anaesthesia internationally; it provides support across the full range of WFSA programmes, in particular the Safety & Quality and Advocacy programmes.

Intensive & Critical Care Medicine Committee

The function of the ICCM is to improve care for acute life-threatening illnesses and injuries pre- and post-operatively, and also for those not needing operative care. Committee members are individuals with expertise in the area of intensive and critical care and an interest in the WFSA commitments to education, science, patient safety and physician well-being.

The scope of activities includes the complete perspective of care for critically ill patients who are at risk, suffering from, or recovering from life-threatening conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, all forms of life support techniques, invasive monitoring and treatments, resuscitation, relevant bioethics, and end-of-life care.

Constitution Committee

The Constitution Committee comprises a Chairman and five other delegates from each of the geographical regions of the WFSA. It recommends to the Executive Committee amendments to the Constitution which it considers will facilitate the work of the Federation.

Education Committee

The Education Committee works collaboratively to create, develop and strengthen the WFSA’s anaesthesiology education and training programme. Our activities include fellowships, scholarships, short courses, educational meetings and consultations. Our methods include financial partnerships, endorsements and expert consultations in collaboration with national societies, governments, non-governmental organisations and committed individuals. The Education Committee is the busiest committee and deals with the main activities that further the goals of the Federation, namely education and dissemination of scientific information. As such it is responsible for the majority of the Federation Expenditure.

Publications Committee

The function of this Committee is to further the Education and Training Programme of the WFSA by providing appropriate educational materials for anaesthetists working without up-to-date published materials. This is challenging as clinical conditions vary from one country to the next, anaesthesia providers differ in their education level, there are multipe languages and modern texts are almost exclusively written for advanced practice, whilst books are expensive and not well distributed.

Scientific Affairs Committee

The Scientific Afffairs committee has a function to facilitate the cooperation between centres from advanced and developing countries, in link with national societies, and to provide research support for individuals from societies and countries that have previously not been exposed to such opportunities. The Committee also develops and maintains a database of scientific programmes for use by National Society, Regional and World Congress organisers as required.

Paediatric Anaesthesia Committee

The function of this Committee is to provide support, training and education for anaesthetic practitioners (both medical and non-medical) who care for babies and children across the world, with particular focus on resource-poor countries.

Obstetric Anaesthesia Committee

The function of this Committee is to provide support, training and education for anaesthetic practitioners (both medical and non-medical) who care for pregnant women across the world, with particular focus on resource-poor countries.

Pain Management Committee

The function of this Committee is to provide support, training and education for anaesthetic practitioners (both medical and non-medical) who specialise in pain management, with particular focus on resource-poor countries.

Professional Wellbeing Committee

In support of the Safety & Quality Programme this committee intends to create awareness of the impact of occupational stress in our profession and to implement strategies for its prevention and management. The Committee also disseminates educational resources about occupational health.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The aim of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is to create global awareness of the importance and impact of DEI in anaesthesiology, and to develop and implement strategies to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. The committee assesses factors that may be influencing or hindering DEI implementation in anaesthesiology organisations/departments and the WFSA. The Committee encourages DEI among WFSA volunteers and workforce, to eliminate discrimination on any basis in employment practises, policies and procedures.

Ad-Hoc Anaesthesia Equipment Committee

The function of this Committee is to is examine whether the WFSA should develop standards for anaesthesia equipment, specifically for LMIC environments (which may encourage the development of new anaesthesia equipment, including equipment that is suitable for LMICs) and / or whether the WFSA should develop a capacity for evaluating anaesthesia equipment.