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WFSA offical statements to WHO in 2024

As a non-state actor in official relations with the WHO, WFSA represents its Member Societies and the wider anaesthesia community at WHO’s regional and global meetings. In 2024, WFSA participated in seven such meetings, presenting 13 statements.

154th WHO Executive Board, 22-27 January 2024

WFSA Delegation – Walid Habre (Switzerland)

Item 8. Global action plan for infection prevention and control

Individual statement calling on states to engage anaesthesiologists in designing and implementing integrated infection prevention and control action plans that tackle surgical site infections, sepsis and anti-microbial resistance.

Agenda item 6: Universal health coverage

A joint statement in partnership with the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation calling for member states to redouble their efforts to realise UHC targets through a patient-focused primary healthcare approach that prioritises the development and strengthening of the health workforce.

Agenda Item 14. WHO’s work in health emergencies

A joint statement in partnership with the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Inc, highlights the the importance of ensuring that services in health emergencies can access internationally controlled essential medicines used for anaesthesia, emergency surgery, trauma care, pain control, and end-of-life care.

Read the statements


77th World Health Assembly, 27 May – I June 2024

WFSA Delegation: Daniela Filipescu (Romania), Carolina Haylock-Loor (Honduras), Ronald Harter (US), Karim Karima Khalid (Tanzania), Adrian Gelb (US)

Agenda item 11.1 Universal Health Coverage

WFSA convened and delivered a constituency statement supported by 14 Non-State Actors representing health workers from across the patient pathway. The statement was delivered in support of a proposed draft decision to develop an Emergency, Critical and Operative Care action plan.

Read the statement

Agenda item 15.4 – Climate change, pollution and health impact of chemicals, waste pollution on human health and Climate Change and Health.

A joint statement convened by the International Federation of Hospital Engineers highlighted to member states that healthcare systems and those that work in them must be supported in efforts to mitigate and minimise the impact that healthcare has on climate change.

Read the statement

Agenda Item 17 – Draft fourteenth general programme of work, 2025–2028.

A joint statement convened by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Inc called on member states and the the WHO to ensure access to essential medicines and continued medical education as a means to realise the WHO’s General Programme of Work 2025-202

Read the statement


71st WHO Regional Committee for Africa, 24- 26 August 2021

WHO Director Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus with Elizabeth and Philippe

WFSA Delegation: Elizabeth Ogboli Nwasor (Nigeria) and Philippe Mavoungou (France & DRC)

Agenda item 12: Health Emergency Preparedness and Response in the WHO African Region

A WFSA statement urged stakeholders to prioritize the development of a resilient anaesthesia workforce, ensuring safer surgical outcomes and a more robust health system prepared for future emergencies.  

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Agenda item 18.2: Digital health in the WHO African Region

The statement called on stakeholders to prioritize digital health initiatives, as this may foster also a resilient anaesthesia workforce capable of meeting the region’s healthcare challenges.

Read the statement


76th Session of the Regional Committee of WHO for the Americas, 30 September – 4 October 2024.

WFSA Delegation: Pedro Ibarra (Colombia)

Agenda item 4.2 – Strategy and Plan of Action to Decrease the Burden of Sepsis in the Region of the Americas 2025–2029.

WFSA’s statement underscored the importance of effective management of surgical site infections (SSIs) and Patient Blood Management (PBM) as central components of the sepsis action plan.

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Agenda item: 4.8 Strategy on Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care 2025–2030 

WFSA’s statement called for member states to realise their integrated ECO strategy countries need to invest in anaesthesia by prioritising the training and recruitment of anaesthesiologists; embedding Embed anaesthesia into National Health Planning; and including anaesthesiologists in the design and leadership of emergency and critical and operative care systems.

Read the statement


77th WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee, 7–9 October 2024

Ekta Rai addressing the Committee

WFSA Delegation: Ekta Rai

Agenda item 9.7. Advancing health emergency preparedness and response in the WHO South-East Asia Region

The statement emphasises the necessity of effective anaesthesia services for the SEA Region’s ability to respond to health emergencies and build resilient healthcare systems.

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71st WHO Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean, 14–17 October 2024

WFSA delegation: Patricia Yazbeck

Patrica Yazbeck addressing the committee

Agenda item 2c: Strategic framework for blood safety and availability, 2016–2025

WFSA’s statement argues that by leveraging the skills of anaesthesiologists, member states can more effectively optimize blood resources, improve clinical outcomes, decrease costs and strengthen overall healthcare systems.

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Agenda Item 2f: Building resilient health systems to advance universal health coverage and ensure health security in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The statement called on member states to invest in and prioritise robust anaesthesia services as a means to develop resilient health systems capable of advancing UHC and safeguarding health security in the region.

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75th WHO Regional Committee of the Western Pacific, 21-25 October 2024

WFSA Delegation: Erlinda Oracion (Phillippines)

Erlinda Oracion at WPRO75

Agenda item 10. Transformative Primary Healthcare

WFSA’s statement welcomes the primary health care approach that brings vital services closer to the communities that need them but warned member states that unless they invest in the training and development of anaesthesiologists they will not be able to implement this approach.

Agenda item 14.2 – Noncommunicable diseases and ageing

The region’s NCD action plan needs to maintain a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of NCDs. This is only possible if countries have an effective anaesthesia service. Many countries in the region need to reprioritise their investment in anaesthesia services.

Read the statements

74th WHO Regional Committee for Europe, 13 -15 October 2024

WFSA representatives: Hilal Ayoglu (Turkey) and Else-Marie Ringvold (Norway)

Hilal Ayoglu and Else-Marie Ringvold at WHO EURO74

Agenda item: Framework for action on resilient and sustainable health systems in the WHO European Region 2025–2030

WFS urged member states to prioritize investments in anaesthesia services, including the training and retention of skilled anaesthesiologists. We call for improved access to essential equipment and medications that anaesthesia professionals need to ensure that services are safe, effective and available to all.

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Agenda Item 10: Health emergency preparedness, response and resilience in the WHO European Region 2024–2029: a new regional strategy and action plan (Preparedness 2.0)

WFSA joined a constituency statement led by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care emphasising the need of Member States to prioritise access to essential medicines in their health emergency planning.

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Agenda item 4: Report of the Regional Director: the work of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in 2023–2024

WFSA joined a constituency statement convened by the European Public Health Alliance recognising the advances made by WHO Europe in helping member states realise UHC and combat NCDs but highlighted the need to continue engagement with civil society to combat growing health challenges such as AMR, climate change and continued investment in WHO.

Read the statement

Further Resources

WFSA’s Advocacy Approach

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