The World Health Organization (WHO) convened the inaugural meeting of the Acute Care Action Network (ACAN) on 17–18 October in Geneva, Switzerland. The gathering brought together key stakeholders to coordinate action to strengthen acute care for everyone, everywhere.
Acute care – delivering time-sensitive, life-saving health interventions – is essential to meeting population health needs, and increasingly vital as global crises multiply. From public health emergencies that disrupt essential health services to the intensifying effects of climate change and protracted conflicts, millions of people worldwide face life-threatening health emergencies. Over half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries could be impacted by effective emergency care. Lack of timely access to these essential services costs lives.
"The world is facing unprecedented health challenges that demand a unified, urgent response," said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Bruce Aylward. "We must ensure that everyone has access to the timely, life-saving care they need. The launch of ACAN is a crucial step in reducing disparities in acute care access, advancing universal health coverage (UHC) and keeping people safe by strengthening health systems to respond effectively to emergency events."
Meeting the global mandate: WHA Resolutions 76.2 and 77.8
In 2023, WHO Member States adopted Resolution 76.2, which called for immediate action to reinforce health systems to deliver emergency, critical and operative care. The resolution was co-sponsored by over 80 countries and highlights the necessity of integrating acute care services across all levels of health systems. WHA 77.8, passed in 2023, called for a global strategy and action plan to support implementation of this mandate. ACAN, a global alliance committed to saving lives through coordinated action, is a key part of WHO's response to this urgent Member State call.
"If we are to meet the challenges of today's health landscape, acute care must be a priority. We cannot achieve universal health coverage if people continue to die from treatable conditions due to a lack of timely care," said Dr Rudi Eggers, Director of WHO Integrated Health Services Department. "This network is an essential mechanism to translate commitments into tangible action."
Key operational priorities for strengthening acute care systems
Five key operational priorities were identified to drive progress and enhance acute care worldwide:
- Strengthening acute care services. Expand the implementation of WHO's acute care resources, including process guidelines and clinical decision support, to improve the quality of acute care in all settings.
- Empowering communities. Understand care seeking and implement community-based first aid programs, enabling early recognition and timely care.
- Enhancing access. Integrate acute care planning across the health system, from communities to clinics to hospitals. This ensures that all levels of care are prepared to deliver acute care where and when it is needed.
- Promoting quality. Implement clinical quality improvement programs to support health workers and facilities in refining clinical practices and enhancing patient outcomes through standardized training, clinical registries, and quality assurance programs.
- Informing action. Conduct comprehensive assessments at the system, pathway, and facility level to identify and mitigate gaps in acute care delivery. These insights will inform national and subnational planning and enhance service provision.
Looking ahead: building on the momentum
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated global action to strengthen acute care. WHO and its partners set targets for implementation, renewed advocacy and joint resource mobilization to ensure sustainability. Participant organizations made tangible commitments to delivering on the operational priorities and supporting countries in building resilient health systems.
WHO will continue to lead efforts to monitor and evaluate the implementation of these plans, ensuring accountability and driving impact. The network will be a vital part of expanding and strengthening acute care services through coordinated, sustained action, and helping to achieve health for all.
