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On Tuesday, May 28, IASP co-hosted a side-meeting with the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA) in Geneva in conjunction with the 77th World Health Assembly, across the street from the Palais des Nations where the WHA is held. IASP and WFSA headlined their side event “Health for All Means Pain Care for All”. With about ten speakers in a brisk program and a spirited audience discussion, IASP and WFSA laid out the principles that they believe will form a resolution for member states to vote on at the next World Health Assembly.=
Rolf-Detlef Treede and Allen Finley, IASP’s Global Advocacy Working Group (GAWG) Chairs, helped lead and wrap up the conversation. The principles discussed at the meeting built on previous agreed positions by WHO and the WHA that it is the “ethical duty of health care professionals to alleviate pain and suffering.” (WHA 67.19) At the core of the principles is the need for countries to recognize pain care as an essential component of health systems plans and Universal Health Coverage. “Health for All” in UHC is a key goal of the WHO. The principles further argue that countries must ensure training of healthcare workers in the assessment and management of pain, and that people in every country must have access to analgesic medications.
Both during and prior to this side-event, members of the IASP team met with officials from WHO and several countries including Germany, Canada, Thailand, Japan, Uruguay, Romania, Australia, the U.S. and more. The GAWG leadership is optimistic that several countries will support a resolution that voices our principles and that the WHA will vote in favor of this resolution next year.
World Health Organization General Programme of Work 2025 – 2028 >