The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), representing members from 150 countries, highlights the critical role of perioperative patient blood management (PBM) in strengthening surgical services and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

PBM is an evidence-based, ethical, and cost-effective approach that improves patient outcomes by preserving and managing a patient’s own blood. It focuses on the timely identification and treatment of anaemia and bleeding disorders, which affect more than 3 billion people globally.

We urge Member States to integrate PBM into national Emergency, Critical, and Operative (ECO) care strategies and UHC plans, as a means to strengthen health systems—by improving patient safety, reducing unnecessary blood transfusions and associated costs, and addressing a key barrier to equitable access to surgical care.