The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) welcomes the Draft Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency Critical and Operative Care and commends WHO for prioritising integrated services to improve patient safety, quality of care, and health system resilience.

Anaesthesiology is foundational to the success of this strategy. Anaesthesiologists work across the ECO patient pathway—from emergency resuscitation and operative care to critical care, recovery, and pain management—ensuring continuity, coordination, and safety.

For this strategy to be fully realised, Member States must invest in and strengthen the anaesthesiology and surgical workforce. Persistent workforce shortages remain a major barrier to safe, integrated ECO care.

WFSA stands ready to support WHO and Member States through education, workforce development, and advocacy to ensure integrated ECO care delivers equitable, safe outcomes for all patients.