Healthcare systems across Europe are facing increasing pressure. Ageing populations, rising patient demand, workforce shortages, heavy workloads, unequal working conditions, shortages of medicines and medical devices, digital transformation, and the urgent need for environmental sustainability are all reshaping the delivery of care.
Against this backdrop, the ESAIC has published a comprehensive White Paper examining the role of anaesthesiologists in strengthening patient safety and supporting resilient, high-quality and sustainable healthcare systems across Europe.
Prof Wolfgang Buhre, immediate past President of the ESAIC, highlighted why resilience must now become a central priority. ‘We are in a changing environment,’ he explains. In Europe, the population is ageing. Our patients need us. However, what we also learned during the pandemic is that we are not resilient enough to meet the demand.’
According to Prof Buhre, anaesthesiologists are at the centre of this challenge. Across Europe, anaesthesiologists care for approximately 70–80% of all hospital patients, often at their most vulnerable moments: in the emergency department, the operating theatre and the intensive care unit. This places the speciality in a unique position within multidisciplinary care, combining clinical expertise with a broad, patient-centred understanding of the hospital journey.
The White Paper outlines three key priorities for action. The first is the need to maintain a skilled and resilient workforce. Across Europe, anaesthesiologists are confronted with workforce shortages, high workloads, burnout and unequal working conditions, all of which have consequences for patient safety and healthcare efficiency. The ESAIC therefore calls for EU-wide workforce planning, harmonised training standards through the European Training Requirement, mutual recognition of qualifications, and continuous clinical and non-clinical education.
The second priority is safeguarding the quality and safety of care. This includes the consistent implementation of perioperative quality standards, clearly defined roles for anaesthesiologists, multidisciplinary and patient-centred care, and shared decision-making. The White Paper also highlights the potential of digitalisation and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, while emphasising the importance of anaesthesiologists’ oversight. In addition, it calls for the establishment of a European perioperative patient registry and stronger policies to prevent shortages of essential medicines and medical devices.
The third priority focuses on environmental sustainability in anaesthesiology. Healthcare carries a significant carbon footprint, and anaesthesiology has a responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of clinical practice, including the use of inhaled anaesthetics and single-use materials. The ESAIC supports sustainable clinical practices and policy measures aimed at reducing emissions, waste and environmental harm while preserving patient safety.
The White Paper was developed through interviews with anaesthesiologists from 10 European countries, in-depth discussions with ESAIC Board members, and extensive reviews of both the literature and grey literature. It is structured around four pillars: education and training; best clinical practice; hospital management and quality of care; and healthcare sustainability. Taken together, these priorities position anaesthesiologists as leading contributors to patient safety, healthcare resilience, innovation and sustainability. They also reflect the ESAIC’s wider commitment to strengthening the profession and supporting healthcare systems that are fit for the future.
As Prof Buhre explains, the ESAIC is urging policymakers to recognise the broader role of anaesthesiology within resilient healthcare systems. ‘We should be involved. We should help. We should work together to bring that not only to the table, but also to make concrete steps to move forward,’ he says.
Source: European Journal of Anaesthesiology; Euroanaesthesia 2026
Image Credit: Euroanaesthesia
