The WFSA board have presented the following statement on ‘Public health emergencies: preparedness and response’ at the 148th World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board Meeting.
WFSA is a Non-State Actor in official relations with WHO. The statement was presented orally by WFSA’s Secretary, Professor Daniela Filipescu on 20 January 2021.
Agenda item 14.2: Public health emergencies: preparedness and response – WHO’s work in health emergencies
The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) is the foremost global alliance of anaesthesiologists providing perioperative and critical care medicine.
With over 5 billion people unable to access safe anaesthesia and perioperative care due to:
- Insufficient trained anaesthesiologists;
- A deficiency in technology and equipment used by anaesthesiologists, including ventilators, pulse oximeters and capnography, and;
- Poor distribution of vital medicines and supplies including affordable and reliable oxygen supplies, anaesthetic and resuscitation medicines.
The ability of health systems to respond to current and future emergencies will remain limited until investment in anaesthesia and perioperative care is prioritised.
WFSA calls on member states to:
- Develop national anaesthesia plans that ensure long term investment in a highly trained anaesthesia and perioperative medicine workforce, and;
- Adopt the recommendations of the WHO Essential Medicines List and the WHO-WFSA International Standards for the Safe Practice of Anesthesia.
