November, 2025 – The November 2025 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia spotlights the critical need to accelerate the adoption of Patient Blood Management (PBM) in health systems worldwide with a high impact series of articles. Citing the World Health Organization’s 2021 PBM Policy Brief and new 2025 Guidance, the issue emphasizes the compelling evidence, economic, and ethical imperatives for PBM and warns that health care delays place avoidable risks on patients globally.
Key barriers addressed include entrenched transfusion-centric medical culture, lack of standardized PBM guidelines, infrastructure gaps—especially in low-income settings—and widespread resistance to change within health systems. The series of articles outlines actionable strategies from the WHO, including whole-system education, development of standardized guidelines and assessment tools, and a shift toward seeing blood as an organ needing protection—coining the phrase “blood health” akin to “heart health” or “gut health”.
Authors advocate for integration of PBM as a national standard, starting with public awareness and extending through primary care, inpatient settings, and post discharge follow-up. Newly developed implementation and assessment tools, such as the PBM Program Implementation and Assessment Tool (PIAT), and recommended metrics are detailed as resources for institutions seeking accreditation and effectiveness benchmarks.
Integrated into the November Issue are 2 podcasts:
With anemia affecting up to 30% of primary care populations globally, and mounting evidence for improved outcomes and reduced costs through PBM, the editorial calls on policymakers, clinicians, and community leaders to act with real urgency—supported by WHO’s latest guidance, practical program models, and change management methodology.
For more information, contact Professor Shannon L. Farmer, Medical School, The University of Western Australia.
Email: [email protected]