Acute Care Action Network Taskforce

About

The Acute Care Action Network Task Force (ACAN TF) is chartered as a fixed-term entity by the Board of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM). IFEM and the World Health Organisation (WHO) operate under a Memorandum of Understanding agreement which was signed on 28 March 2023 and expiring on 31 December 2025. The MoU describes an agreement by which IFEM supports WHO work as a key collaborator. In particular, ACAN is set up to help implement workstreams as a result of the WHA Resolution 76.2 Integrated emergency, critical and operative care for universal health coverage and protection from health emergencies (May 2023) calling for universal access to high-quality emergency care across the world’s population, integrated pathways of care and pre-hospital and hospital emergency unit care delivered by specifically trained healthcare workers.  

ACAN is not a decision-making body, nor does it have any bearing over the work and activities of its participants that occur outside the network. It seeks to save millions of lives by supporting acute care development globally. To achieve this goal, this official network drives a global advocacy initiative that: 

• Convenes key stakeholders in global acute care as indicated and with strategic coordination provided by WHO. 
• Supports the dissemination of WHO trainings, process tools and other WHO acute care strengthening resources through coordination, knowledge sharing and direct support for implementation. 

IFEM became an official partner of ACAN on 28 March 2024.  As IFEM represents the largest group of emergency care providers worldwide, it was asked to become a member of the network to engage is educational, administrative, advocacy efforts that focus on the implementation of the initiatives outlined in recent WHO resolutions. IFEM’s ACAN TF is set up in response to this role.