The 78th World Health Assembly, held in Geneva from 19 – 27 May 2025, provided WFSA with a valuable opportunity to advocate on behalf of the global anaesthesiology community.
As the only anaesthesiology organisation in official relations with the World Health Organisation, meetings like the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) offer the WFSA a valuable opportunity to advocate to governments, technocrats, and partner organisations that shape so much of our global health systems.
WHA78 is a marathon not a sprint, lasting over a week and covering all global health issues (and more besides), with opportunities to further the cause of safe, accessible, and equitable anaesthesia and Emergency, Critical and Operative (ECO) care worldwide falling into three main categories – statements, side-events and bilateral meetings.
Statements – Most closely aligned to the meeting agenda – WFSA, as a non-state actor, can make short statements as part of plenary discussions on the different agenda items. These statements are included in the official report of the WHA. They are a valuable opportunity to address Member States directly.
Side-events – Outside of the main committee rooms, a wealth of official and unofficial side-events are held to focus on specific topics of the organisers’ choosing (over 110 at WHA78). These provide an opportunity to highlight topics in a more in-depth way and engage with your peers.
Bilaterals – With so many organisations and people in the same place at the same time, WHA78 is a valuable opportunity to meet face-to-face, whether to improve collaboration with other civil society organisations or provide technical updates to the specialist WHO teams.
WFSA’s delegation was led by President Dr Daniela Filipescu and President-Elect Dr Carolina Haylock-Loor. It included Past President Dr Adrian Gelb representing the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr Karima Khalid from the Tanzanian Society of Anaesthesiologists, our CEO, Kristine Stave, and Head of Communications and Advocacy, Francis Peel.
Statements on the Role of Anaesthesia in Global Health
Throughout the WHA78 proceedings, WFSA amplified the critical role anaesthesiology plays in achieving global health goals, particularly Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and preparedness for health emergencies. This year we delivered one individual statement and co-signed three constituency statements addressing climate change, health emergencies, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Patient Blood Management: A Foundation for UHC
Under Agenda Item 13.3 on Universal Health Coverage, our CEO, Kristine Stave, delivered an individual statement emphasising the importance of perioperative Patient Blood Management (PBM). PBM, an ethical and evidence-based approach, helps preserve and manage patients’ own blood through early detection and treatment of anaemia and bleeding disorders, affecting over 3 billion people globally.
“Integrating PBM into national ECO strategies can significantly enhance patient safety, reduce avoidable transfusions, and strengthen health systems. We call on Member States to recognise PBM as a cornerstone of UHC implementation.”
Championing Anaesthesia in Health Emergencies
Under Agenda Item 16.1, WFSA joined a constituency statement highlighting the indispensable role of surgical and anaesthesia services in preparing for and responding to health emergencies. With reference to past WHA Resolutions, this statement underscored the need for first-level hospitals—often the first and only points of care during crises—to be fully equipped and supported.
WFSA and the other signatories called on WHO to engage and support the multidisciplinary workforce at these facilities, stressing that readiness includes not just infrastructure, but trained personnel and integrated ECO systems.
“Anaesthesia and surgical care are not optional extras in emergencies—they are essential components of resilient health systems.”
Addressing Climate Change Through Climate-Smart Operative Care
WFSA joined a strong constituency statement on Agenda Item 18.3, urging Member States to invest in climate-resilient health systems and adopt climate-smart operative care. Highlighting anaesthesiology’s contribution to climate adaptation and mitigation, the statement proposed actionable steps:
- Phasing out desflurane and piped nitrous oxide
- Promoting energy-efficient practices and regional anaesthesia techniques
- Supporting continuity in maternal care and responsible C-section rates
- Ensuring robust WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services in climate emergencies
“Climate change is the most urgent threat to global health, and its impact on surgical and anaesthesia services in low-emission, high-vulnerability regions cannot be overstated.”
Prioritising Childhood NCDs
WFSA also supported a constituency statement under Agenda Item 13.1, calling for the explicit inclusion of childhood cancers in the upcoming political declaration at the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and mental health. With over 400,000 new cases annually—most in low- and middle-income countries—childhood cancer represents a strategic entry point for strengthening health systems.
“As anaesthesiologists, we are integral to multidisciplinary teams treating childhood cancers. Recognising these conditions within the global NCD framework ensures a holistic and equitable approach to care”.
Leading Conversations Beyond the Palais
WFSA co-hosted two high-impact side events to explore how best to operationalise and strengthen emergency, critical and operative care.
The ECO Continuum: Driving Better Patient Outcomes
Organised on behalf of the Acute Care Action Network (ACAN), this event on 19 May convened Ministries of Health from Colombia, Nigeria and Romania alongside global health experts to discuss integrated ECO care as a life-saving strategy. The event spotlighted the need for collaborative data-backed approaches, system-wide readiness, and political leadership to reduce preventable deaths.
Data to Action: Metrics for Safer Care
On 20 May, WFSA and UCSF’s CHESA hosted a data-driven session examining tools like the Anaesthesia Facility Assessment Tool (AFAT), Operative Encounter Registry (OER), and the UHC Service Package Delivery & Implementation (SPDI) tool. These standards and innovations are driving national improvements, especially in resource-limited settings. The meeting reinforced the power of data in helping countries deliver on UHC and WHA Resolution 76.2.
Amplifying Anaesthesia Voices on Global Panels
Our President and President-Elect also took part in several panel discussions during WHA week. Professor Filipescu joined a panel hosted by the International Student Surgical Network (InciSion), offering insights about the centrality of effective anaesthesia to UHC efforts. She highlighted the importance of patient blood management in improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital overheads.
Dr Haylock-Loor spoke on the role of anaesthesia in ECO care at an event hosted by Mercy Ships and Operation Smile; she also spoke at an official WHA side event co-organised by the Governments of Belgium and Switzerland, focused on access to controlled medicines—another critical issue for anaesthesiologists worldwide.
Bilateral Engagement
Neurosurgeon and former Vice President of Ecuador.
Beyond official sessions and side events, WHA78 provided WFSA with invaluable opportunities for bilateral meetings. The delegation engaged with partners including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Confederation of Midwives, the International Federation of Medical Student Associations, Operation Smile and Smile Train. These interactions are integral to WFSA’s advocacy efforts, reinforcing collaboration and forging new alliances across sectors.
A Historic WHA Amidst Global Uncertainty
Much of the discussions in and around WHA78 were underscored by the new financial constraints now facing global health as a whole. Funding reductions are threatening the WHO’s ability to respond swiftly to global health emergencies, implement core programmes, and maintain operational independence. In response to this, Member States agreed to increase their contributions to WHO by a20%.
This year’s WHA also saw some significant decisions adopted: the approval of a historic Pandemic Agreement Framework, strengthened commitments to Universal Health Coverage, and enhanced international cooperation on antimicrobial resistance and climate-related health threats, alongside new strategies on lung health, kidney health, and traditional medicine.
Meanwhile, debates over NCDs and UHC highlighted a persistent reality: only 19 countries are on track to achieve the 30% NCD mortality reduction target by 2030. The need for integrated, cost-effective, and scalable patient-focused approaches —like ECO care—has never been more urgent.
Looking Ahead
WFSA’s strong presence at WHA78 reaffirms our commitment to raising the voice of anaesthesiologists with global health decision makers. By advocating for patient blood management, championing the role of anaesthesiologists in health emergencies, supporting climate-smart practices, and highlighting the role of anaesthesia in childhood cancer care, WFSA continues to demonstrate how anaesthesiology is foundational to health system resilience.
