World Health Organization (WHO)
The Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is a Non-State Actor in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1996.
The Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) is a Non-State Actor in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1996, having as a mission the prioritization of thalassaemia on national health agendas and the development and implementation of effective disease-specific control (prevention and clinical management) programmes within national healthcare systems, based on universal coverage.
The collaboration between TIF and WHO received new endorsement from WHO’s Executive Board during its 154th session in January 2024 and was renewed for an additional term, covering the years 2024 to 2027.
TIF’s vision is to support the provision of equal access of every affected patient to high-quality health, social, and other care in a truly patient-centered healthcare setting. To achieve its mission and vision, TIF has built its work on five distinct pillars (Education, Advocacy, Collaborations and Networking, Research and Awareness-Raising) to address the unmet needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and decision-makers, as expressed in:
- Resolution 58.23 of the World Health Assembly on Disability, including prevention, management and rehabilitation, recognizing thalassaemia as a disability-inducing disease that needs to be prevented;
- Resolution EB118.R1 of WHO’s Executive Board on Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies, and
- Resolution 59.20 of the World Health Assembly on Sickle Cell Anaemia, listing a number of actions to promote equitable access to health services and medicines for the prevention and management of haemoglobin disorders.
In 2018, in the context of the WHO-TIF official relations, TIF proposed the drafting of a “Global Thalassaemia Review” that would outline the current situation globally regarding the provision of healthcare and social services for thalassaemia and would be considered a Progress Report by the WHO concerning the implementation of the aforementioned Resolutions. The Global Thalassaemia Review was officially presented in May 2021, in the context of the International Thalassaemia Day (8 May) and is being updated annually to reflect the evolving landscape of healthcare practices, policies, and advancements in the treatment and management of thalassaemia worldwide.
Key Areas of Mutual Interest:
Useful Links:
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2023)
- Tracking Universal Health Coverage: Global Monitoring Report (2023)
- WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan (2021-2030)
- WHO Implementation Roadmap 2023–2030 for the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2030
- WHO/Europe Novel Medicines Platform (NMP) (2022)
- WHO World Report on the Health of Refugees and Migrants (2022)
- WHO Global Status Report on Blood Safety and Availability (2021)
- WHO SEAR Regional Desk Review of Haemoglobinopathies With an Emphasis on Thalassaemia and Accessibility and Availability of Safe Blood and Blood Products in SouthEast Asia Under Universal Health Coverage (2021)
