Context
Emergency, critical and operative care (ECO) represents a continuum of interrelated health services at the foundation of a health system’s ability to meet people’s needs across the life course and to respond effectively to public health emergencies and humanitarian settings. While these services are extremely interdependent, their planning and management is fragmented in many contexts, resulting in costly inefficiency, delayed care and avoidable loss of life. Recognizing this, the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly adopted decision 77(8) requesting the WHO Director-General to develop a global strategy and action plan for integrated emergency, critical and operative care, 2026-2035. The strategy and action plan will facilitate implementation of Resolution WHA 76.2 on Integrated emergency, critical and operative care for universal health coverage and protection from health emergencies.
Scope
In response to decision 77(8), the WHO Secretariat conducted a Member State consultation on the draft Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care, 2026-2035.
Process
A consultative process was undertaken as follows:
17 June 2025: The Secretariat convened a virtual information session with Member States on Development of a Global Strategy and Action Plan.
From 23 June – 14 July 2025: The Secretariat convened a global web-based consultation for Member States on the draft Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care, 2026-2035.
The draft Global Strategy that the Member States reviewed is available here. The consultation was only open to Member States. Feedback was provided by individuals who were authorized to represent Member States in this consultation. The WHO technical team collated all Member State submissions into one verbatim document that is posted here.
The draft Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care, 2026-2035 was updated based on Member State feedback. The WHO Executive Board discussed the revised draft Global Strategy at the 158th Executive Board meeting in February 2026 and recommended that it be adopted by the World Health Assembly. The revised draft Global Strategy for Integrated Emergency, Critical and Operative Care, 2026-2035 that will be considered for adoption at the 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026 is here.
Any enquiry can be addressed to Dr Teri Reynolds, Team Lead, Integrated Services and Models of Care, Service Delivery and Primary Health Care Unit, Performance, Financing and Delivery Department, at eco@who.int.