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September 2000
Volume 64 |
Number 9
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WHAT'S NEW IN…
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| The World Federation
of Societies of Anaesthesiologists |
Bernard V. Wetchler, M.D., Past Chair,
Executive Committee World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
"Ladies and gentlemen, the baby is now born. The confinement
has been prolonged, but nevertheless, I think has been accomplished
without serious complications." With these words, Harold
R. Griffith, M.D., (Canada), on September 9, 1955, announced the
establishment of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists
(WFSA). The occasion was the closing session of the World Congress
of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) that was held in Scheveningen, in
the Netherlands. The congress, attended by more than 800 anesthesiologists
from 44 countries, was held for the express purpose of establishing
the WFSA. Twenty-six national societies became charter members
of the federation. Lewis H. Wright, M.D., who was the official
observer for ASA, took the opportunity to explain why, at that
time, ASA did not wish to become a member. His comment, as transcribed
by the secretary responsible for the minutes: "The only reason
why ASA cannot yet adhere to the world federation, is a lack of
liaison in former days between it and the composing societies
it is only a matter of time for the ASA to join the federation."
ASA became a member in 1960 at the second WCA.
The WFSA is a physician-based, education-focused organization
whose current membership includes 104 national anesthesiology
societies who annually contribute $1.25 in dues for each active
member. A world congress is convened every four years. The principle
objective of the WFSA is "to make accessible the highest
standards of anaesthesia and resuscitation to all peoples of the
world." This mission is carried out through committees on
education, publications, paediatrics, obstetrics, pain relief,
safety and quality of practice, resuscitation, trauma and intensive
care medicine and technology, information and equipment.
During the period between the 2nd and the 8th congresses, WCA
income from dues, plus a revenue sharing plan established with
WCA host societies, provided insufficient funds to allow WFSA
to reach its educational objective. There was no permanent headquarters
and methods of communication were slow; individual officers, usually
the secretary, maintained contact with member societies. A series
of highly successful world congresses, the first of these hosted
by ASA in 1988 in Washington, D.C., followed by the Netherlands
(The Hague, 1992) and Australian (Sydney, 1996) societies, saw
the WFSA realize income of more than $3 million. It is expected
that the 12th WCA, hosted by the Canadian Anaesthesiologists’
Society this past June in Montreal where total registration exceeded
10,000 (over 6,500 anesthesiologists) will aid WFSA in having
greater involvement in anesthesia education worldwide.
Due to the excellent management of revenues by its two past
treasurers, Richard Ament, M.D., United States, and Michael Rosen,
M.D., United Kingdom, the WFSA now finds itself able to not only
meet but to expand its educational commitment. The two largest
items in the recently approved quadrennial budget are for education
and publications; combined they will total more than $330,000
per year by 2005. Over the past four years, a total of 25 refresher
courses and 15 visiting professorships have been provided (sub-Saharan
Africa, Asia, South America, Pacific Islands and eastern Europe).
Additionally, the obstetrics (Chair D. Anthony Rocke, M.D., South
Africa) and the paediatrics (Chair Charles J. Cote, M.D., United
States) committees established specialist training centers in
Africa and South America. It has been proposed that over the next
four years, additional centers should be established in Africa,
South America and Asia. The George Soros Foundation recently committed
to funding 16 fellowships in pain medicine for anesthesiologists
from eastern Europe.
WFSA publications include Update in Anaesthesia (published two
to three times per year in six languages), which contains articles
on simple practical procedures with explanations of the basic
theory behind them. It is aimed at practitioners in countries
with limited resources and poor access to educational material.
Available on the Internet at www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa,
the site has had over 34,000 hits from people in more than 115
countries. World Anaesthesia, published twice a year and mailed
to all member societies, contains federation news and articles
from correspondents throughout the world. It is expected that
WFSA will develop a separate newsletter while providing assistance
for the continuation of World Anaesthesia.
The past half dozen years has seen greater cooperation between
ASA and the WFSA. Donations of teaching materials (books, journals,
refresher courses and videos), a joint effort of the WFSA, ASA
and the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM), initiated
in 1995 by my direction as chair of the WFSA Executive Committee,
has distributed educational packages to 99 anesthesia departments
in underserved countries. The WFSA commits $15,000 per annum toward
distribution costs; Roger J. Eltringham, M.D., United Kingdom,
coordinates this worthwhile project. More efficient utilization
of existing programs and resources in Africa and other regions
of the world are taking place through the efforts of Phillip O.
Bridenbaugh, M.D., United States (Chair, ASA Committee on Overseas
Anesthesia Teaching Programs). At the suggestion of Elliott V.
Miller, M.D., United States, the WFSA, through its publications
and Web site, will make member societies aware of Internet access
to WLM resources.
At the Montreal congress, I completed my four-year term as honorary
vice-president of the federation. The ASA will be well-represented
in the future: John R. Moyers, M.D., who completed eight years
on the executive committee (EXCO), was elected honorary vice-president
and deputy secretary of the EXCO: Charles J. Coté, M.D., was elected
to an eight-year term on the EXCO. H. Jerrel Fontenot, M.D., as
chair of the Committee on Finance, will be a member of the EXCO
for at least four years. Ira J. Rampil, M.D., will chair the Committee
for Technology, Information and Equipment, replacing N. Ty Smith,
M.D., who will chair a Web site development working party (federation
language for a task force or ad hoc committee). ASA also has representation
on all standing and special committees.
The next World Congress of Anaesthesiologists will convene April
18-23, 2004, in Paris, France. Information about the congress
or the federation can be obtained from Karen McMurchy, Administrative
Coordinator, WFSA Headquarters: WFSA Level 8, Imperial House 5616,
15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6TH, United Kingdom; Telephone: (011)
44 20 7836 5652, fax: (011) 44 20 7836, e-mail: wfsa@compuserve.com.
Bernard V. Wetchler, M.D., is Clinical Professor
of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois.
He was ASA President in 1995.
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