Strategic Objective 1: Governance, Leadership & Partnerships

Session Description:

In this collaborative session between the EMT Initiative and Integrative Emergency, Critical and Operative Care (ECO), participants will have a brief introduction on the interlinkages and two-way synergies between enhanced ECO/emergency care systems for day-to-day health care and strengthened EMT/surge response capacities for health emergency response. Participants will then have the unique opportunity to contribute, from a health emergency response and EMT Network perspective, in a dedicated consultation on the Global Strategy and Action Plan for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care (ECO) led by the ECO team.

Integrated emergency, critical and operative care (ECO) services are key to a comprehensive primary health care approach and essential to ensure that the health needs of people are met across the life course without undue delay. The World Health Assembly has stressed the importance of integrated ECO in resolutions 68.15 (2015) “Strengthening emergency and essential surgical care and anaesthesia as a component of universal health coverage”, 72.16 (2019) “Emergency care systems for universal health coverage: ensuring timely care for the acutely ill and injured”, and 76.2 (2023) “Integrated emergency, critical and operative care for universal health coverage and protection from health emergencies” (“the ECO resolution”). In 2024, the World Health Assembly adopted decision 77(8) on development of a global strategy and action plan for integrated emergency, critical and operative care, 2026–2035. In 2024-25, WHO is conducting a series of consultations with Member States and partners to gather input on key actions to implement the ECO resolution and inform the global strategy and action plan. At each consultation, audience members participate in a large group discussion and real-time polling on possible ECO actions for professional societies, NGOs, governments, universities, WHO and other stakeholders.