WFSA and Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) host a special session on perioperative safety and innovation at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting.
New Delhi, 29 April 2025 — The World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting 2025, held from April 25–27 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, provided a high-level platform for WFSA and the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) to emphasize the indispensable role of anaesthesia and perioperative care in strengthening global health systems to emphasize the indispensable role of anaesthesia and perioperative care in strengthening global health systems.
The WHS Regional Meeting brings together leaders from government, academia, civil society, industry, and global health organizations to address pressing health challenges from a regional perspective. By rotating its location each year, the meeting highlights local health issues and innovations while contributing to global solutions. It fosters collaboration, influences health policy, and supports capacity building, particularly among young professionals. The summit plays a crucial role in connecting regional experiences with global health priorities, promoting dialogue, partnerships, and evidence-based action to improve health worldwide.
Dr. J. Balavenkat Subramanian, President of ISA and Secretary of WFSA, remarked:
“We shared our thoughts on how WFSA/ISA is focusing on addressing pertinent issues in the perioperative period that would pave the way for patient safety and comfort. It was well received, and several participants echoed the feeling that this is the first time anaesthesiologists are presenting their views in the World Health Summit.”
This message set the tone for the summit, where, under the theme “Innovation and Leadership,” WFSA and ISA hosted a panel session titled “Patient Safety Leadership: National to Global Insights and Innovations,” aligning with the WHO’s ECO Implementation Plan. The session explored how scalable innovations and leadership strategies can be embedded into health policy to improve patient safety in both high- and low-resource settings.
Moderated by Dr. Namita Sharma, Head of Anaesthesiology at Aakash Healthcare, the session spotlighted cutting-edge tools, clinical innovations, and strategic leadership initiatives. Dr. Sharma highlighted WFSA’s commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare equity, strengthening the anaesthesia workforce, and shaping policy through multi-stakeholder engagement. She underscored the importance of WFSA’s advocacy and influence in global surgical reform and patient safety.
Dr. Subramanian further elaborated on trauma and acute care management, with a special focus on community engagement in pre-hospital care, aggressive and intensive resuscitation protocols, and continuous data-driven quality improvement.
Other key speakers brought diverse perspectives to the session:
- Dr. Jigeeshu V. Divatia addressed the issue of surgical site infections, providing a comprehensive overview on antimicrobial prophylaxis. His talk emphasized adherence to evidence-based guidelines and continuous evaluation of prophylactic practices to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Dr. Rakesh Garg explored the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the “neo-digital generation.” He showcased how digital innovations can significantly enhance patient safety, clinical efficiency, and healthcare delivery outcomes.
Day 2: Transforming Surgical Access
On April 26, WFSA participated in another influential session—“Transformational Strategies Enhancing Access to Surgical Care”—chaired by Dr. Ruben Ayala and moderated by Abhishek Sengupta of Operation Smile. Representing WFSA, Dr. Namita Sharma stressed the federation’s role in shaping global surgery through workforce development, educational frameworks, and quality standards.
This session brought together global health leaders including Dr. Nobhojit Roy, Dr. Vuong Anh Duong, Dr. Saloni Mitra, and Dr. Srirupa Das, highlighting cross-sectoral efforts to achieve universal surgical care.
Strategic Impact
WFSA’s engagement at the WHS Regional Meeting 2025 reaffirmed its leadership in global patient safety and perioperative innovation. The sessions provided a collaborative platform to drive health equity, reinforce the ECO framework, and shape policies for a safer, more inclusive future in anaesthesia and surgery.
