This achievement marks a significant milestone in the global effort to promote Patient Blood Management (PBM)
By Fredy Ariza, WFSA p-PBM Working Group
Made possible through collaboration, advocacy and a commitment from medical professionals and organisations worldwide, the 100th signature on the Santa Cruz Declaration (SCD) highlights the growing recognition of PBM’s impact on improving patient care, optimising healthcare resources, and reducing reliance on blood transfusions.
What sparked the movement behind the Santa Cruz Declaration?
At the CLASA Congress in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 2022 an urgent call to action triggered a movement that continues to grow. Representatives from across the region gathered to hear three PBM leaders (Fredy Ariza, Axel Hofmann and Angel Augusto Perez Calatayud) deliver a powerful message.
They emphasised the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) urgent call to address anaemia—affecting five to six times more patients than any other blood-related condition—and the significant harm caused by over-reliance on blood transfusions, with their profound impact on patient outcomes and healthcare costs.i
That evening, the initiative captured the attention of WFSA President, Wayne Morris, who recognised its potential to unite anaesthesia leaders globally under the principles of perioperative-PBM (p-PBM).
What is the Santa Cruz Declaration?
The Santa Cruz Declaration, born from that pivotal meeting, became a global pledge to transform patient care by optimising blood use and improving outcomes. Originally championed by Latin American leaders, it sparked a domino effect, inspiring endorsements from across continents.
This collaborative effort was taken forward by WFSA by endorsing the World Health Organization (WHO) call to action and leading innovative work in the field of PBM, including an outreach campaign to WFSA Member Societies to secure their support for a global PBM declaration.
A WFSA p-PBM Working Group was launched, which expanded from the developing of a p-PBM Course to other initiatives such as webinars, publications, and strategic communications.ii These efforts align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to transform our world, cementing p-PBM as a cornerstone of sustainable healthcare.
Right: Fredy Ariza discussing the progress of the WFSA P-PBM course
Why is the 100th signature important?
Reaching 100 signatures is more than a symbolic achievement—it represents a growing international consensus on the importance of PBM, with commitments from 86 WFSA Member Societies, five Regional Sections, and nine international organisations.
It reflects a collective dedication to improving surgical outcomes and resource use through PBM’s three pillars: optimising haemoglobin levels, reducing blood loss, and enhancing patient resilience to anaemia as a continuum along the perioperative journey.iii These strategies have reshaped healthcare systems by reducing the need for allogeneic blood transfusions and enhancing patient safety.
Looking ahead
As we celebrate this milestone, we recognise that much work lies ahead. Education, advocacy, collaboration and innovation will be essential to sustain this momentum. Governments, healthcare administrators, and policymakers must institutionalise PBM principles, while global partnerships and investments in technology will ensure PBM strategies reach underserved regions.iv
By demonstrating PBM’s benefits—improved outcomes, ethical resource use, and evidence-based care—we can inspire broader adoption worldwide. The 100th signature is more than a number; it is a testament to the power of collective action. Let this achievement inspire us to push boundaries, embrace innovation, and remain steadfast in our commitment to patient-centred care.
Together, we can transform global healthcare, ensuring that p-PBM principles guide us toward a future where every patient receives the safest, most effective perioperative care possible.
Title image: PBM expert and working group collaborator Axel Hofmann (left) with WFSA President Daniela Filipescu (centre) and President Elect, Carolina Haylock Loor (right) signing the Santa Cruz Declaration
References
- The urgent need to implement patient blood management: policy brief. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240035744
- Perioperative- Patient Blood Management (P-PBM). https://wfsahq.org/our-work/safety-quality/perioperative-patient-blood-management-p-pbm/
- Desai N, Schofield N, Richards T. Perioperative Patient Blood Management to Improve Outcomes. Anesth Analg. 2018 Nov;127(5):1211-1220. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002549. PMID: 29064875.
- Meybohm P, Richards T, Isbister J, Hofmann A, Shander A, Goodnough LT, Muñoz M, Gombotz H, Weber CF, Choorapoikayil S, Spahn DR, Zacharowski K. Patient Blood Management Bundles to Facilitate Implementation. Transfus Med Rev. 2017 Jan;31(1):62-71. doi: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2016.05.012. Epub 2016 May 28. PMID: 27317382.
