PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION 

Global Health Leaders Unveil WHO Clinical Registry’s Operative Encounter Module, Spearheading Data-Driven Transformation in Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care for neglected patients in low and middle-income countries. 

Geneva, Switzerland, May 28, 2024—Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care (G4 Alliance), and other partners joined forces to showcase the Operative Encounter Module of the WHO Clinical Registry, marking a significant step forward in advancing global health systems’ data capabilities.

The launch event – attended by global health leaders, journalists, healthcare professionals, academia, and NGOs – showcased the Operative Encounter Registry’s (OER) software platform and highlighted its transformative potential in improving surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anaesthesia care in low—and middle-income counties.

The Operative Encounter Registry, built and hosted on the WHO District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) platform, is a software that offers a secure and user-controlled environment for healthcare providers to collect, analyze, and utilize patient data to enhance the quality and safety of surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anaesthesia care. This data-driven approach enables hospitals and healthcare systems to identify areas for improvement, allocate resources effectively, and enhance patient safety and outcomes.

“WHO’s clinical registry is a powerful tool to improve quality of care and save lives. This new operative encounter module will allow clinicians and planners across the world to better understand the contribution of surgical care to health systems and to drive quality improvement,” stated Dr. Rudi Eggers, Director of the WHO Department of Integrated Services.

Neil Wetzig, Vice President of the G4 Alliance, emphasized the importance of piloting this project in many hospitals in low—and middle-income countries: “The Operative Encounter Registry underscores the G4 Alliance’s commitment to ensuring access to safe and timely surgical care for all. By harnessing the power of data, we can address critical gaps in health information and drive meaningful change in healthcare delivery.”

Key highlights of the launch event included insights from ongoing demonstration projects, showcasing the OER’s potential to enhance healthcare quality in LMICs. Partners and speakers from organizations such as the World Federation of Society of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), the International Federation of Surgical Colleges (IFSC), the Association of Academic Global Surgery (AAGS), and Operation Smile highlighted the collaborative efforts driving innovative solutions in global health.

 All partners in the launch event invite all surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anaesthesia care stakeholders worldwide to promote the use of the OER and join this data-driven transformation journey to grant millions of neglected patients in low and middle-income countries access to safe surgical and critical healthcare, shaping a future where quality care is a reality for all. 

# # #

About WHO

Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to global health and safety. The Organization connects nations, partners, and communities to promote health and serve the vulnerable. WHO works with its Member States to achieve the highest level of health for all people by pursuing universal health coverage.  WHO, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies. And we promote healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes. See: https://www.who.int/ 

About the G4 Alliance:

The G4 Alliance is a global coalition of over 70 member organizations that advocate for safe surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anaesthesia (SOTA) care worldwide. Through partnerships, advocacy efforts, and capacity-building initiatives, the G4 Alliance works towards achieving universal access to surgical and anaesthesia care as part of essential health services. See: https://theg4alliance.org/

For more information about WHO and G4 Alliance, please contact: 

Claudio Tanca  

Executive Director, G4 Alliance  

Email: claudio.tancaATtheg4aalliance.org   

Phone: +1 202.714.0789