WFH – the cornerstone of global development: 45 years of progress

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) has been the cornerstone of global development for 45 years. The WFH has identified and optimized the essential elements of a model for the development of a sustainable national care programme. The five elements of the WFH Development Model are integrated and interdependent: ensuring accurate laboratory diagnosis, achieving government support for a national programme, improving the care delivery system, increasing the availability of treatment products and building a strong national patient organization. It can been demonstrated that patient organizations, healthcare providers and the Ministry of Health working together in coalition is essential to achieving sustainable care. Equally important, the provision of care by a multidisciplinary team of trained professionals within a comprehensive care setting is fundamentally important to optimize outcomes. Using data from the WFH Global Survey, it is evident that the WFH Development Model brings about sustainable improvements in care. To support the Model, the WFH has created a vast range of tools, guides and programmes tailored to specific development needs. The Global Alliance for Progress is the preeminent WFH development program. Five years of outcomes data document a narrowing of the care gap between developed and developing nations. To ensure the continued advance towards the WFH vision of Treatment for All, it is vital that global collaboration occur on the research front as well. The WFH is well positioned to meet the challenges ahead and to continue serving as the cornerstone of global collaboration and development.