Engaging the World Health Organisation
WFSA is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Non-State Actor. We work with WHO and UN Member States to ensure that anaesthesia is prioritised in all relevant discussions.
An outline of our agreed work plan with WHO covering 2025-2028 is available at – https://publicspace.who.int/sites/GEM/official_relations_details.aspx?id=2627
Representation at WHO Meetings
In 2024, WFSA participated in eight such meetings, presenting 18 statements.
154th WHO Executive Board, 22-27 January
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 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.
77th World Health Assembly, 27 May – I June
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.
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.
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
74th WHO Regional Committee for Africa, 24- 26 August
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.
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.
76th Session of the Regional Committee of WHO for the Americas, 30 September – 4 October
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.
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.
77th WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee, 7–9 October
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.
71st WHO Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean, 14–17 October
WFSA delegation: Patricia Yazbeck
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.
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.
75th WHO Regional Committee of the Western Pacific, 21-25 September
WFSA Delegation: Erlinda Oracion (Phillippines)
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.
74th WHO Regional Committee for Europe, 13 -15 October
WFSA representatives: Hilal Ayoglu (Turkey) and Else-Marie Ringvold (Norway)
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.
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.
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.
WFSA activity at WHAs and other WHO meetings:
- 77th WHA, 2024
- 76th WHA, 2023
- 75th WHA, 2022
- 74th WHA, 2021
- 2020: The essential role of anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 response
- 2020: Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world.
