Criterion Knowledge Hub

Criterion Knowledge Hub

Guidelines, definitions and articles behind each ASF criterion, with the source of every item and a note where material is still missing.

The Criterion Knowledge Hub links each ASF criterion to the guidelines, definitions and articles that support it. It helps a reader see where a criterion comes from and where to read more.

How items are chosen. A person reviews each item against its title and summary before it is listed. Keyword matches are only candidates until they are checked.

Sources. WHO, PAHO and MSF documents are preferred. A non-WHO source is used only when no WHO, PAHO or MSF document exists, and it is marked as non-WHO. Wikipedia is not used.

Checks. Every link is tested before publishing, and again every month. A criterion with no suitable item shows “No additional material yet” and a note on what is still needed. It is never filled with a weak match.

Coverage. This version covers Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The other standards are added in batches, each one checked before it goes live.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF staffing standard for patient need in the library. Needed: a WHO or PAHO guidance on staffing levels and skill mix.

• GuidelineEmergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT): Manual for Participants
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Training manual
  WHO (2021). Structured triage and assessment of sick children in emergency care. Covers children only, so it does not replace an adult assessment standard.
• GuidelineLong-term care for older people: package for universal health coverage
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance (normative)
  WHO (2024). Long-term care for older people aged 60+. Covers holistic assessment, individualised care planning, malnutrition screening and nutrition support, and says to avoid physical restraints in care homes. It is not a complete restraint or care-plan standard.

Still open: Only child triage (ETAT) and older-people assessment (Long-Term Care) are in the library. Needed: a general adult structured assessment guideline.

• GuidelineLong-term care for older people: package for universal health coverage
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance (normative)
  WHO (2024). Long-term care for older people aged 60+. Covers holistic assessment, individualised care planning, malnutrition screening and nutrition support, and says to avoid physical restraints in care homes. It is not a complete restraint or care-plan standard.

Still open: The Long-Term Care package covers individualised care planning for older people. Needed: a general care-plan standard for all patients.

• GuidelineLong-term care for older people: package for universal health coverage
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance (normative)
  WHO (2024). Long-term care for older people aged 60+. Covers holistic assessment, individualised care planning, malnutrition screening and nutrition support, and says to avoid physical restraints in care homes. It is not a complete restraint or care-plan standard.

Still open: The Long-Term Care package says to avoid physical restraints in care homes, but gives no restraint or seclusion policy. Needed: WHO guidance on restraint and seclusion use.

• GuidelineLong-term care for older people: package for universal health coverage
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance (normative)
  WHO (2024). Long-term care for older people aged 60+. Covers holistic assessment, individualised care planning, malnutrition screening and nutrition support, and says to avoid physical restraints in care homes. It is not a complete restraint or care-plan standard.
• DefinitionAcute malnutrition in infants, children or adolescents
  GMJ dictionary
  Acute malnutrition is a condition where the body lacks sufficient nutrients, leading to serious health issues. Children and adolescents only.

Still open: Nutrition screening is covered for older people (Long-Term Care) and malnutrition is defined for children only. Needed: an adult nutrition and therapeutic diet guideline.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The Long-Term Care package lists pressure injury among older people's health needs but gives no prevention protocol. Needed: WHO or PAHO pressure injury prevention guidance.

• DefinitionDeep vein thrombosis
  GMJ dictionary
  Deep vein thrombosis is a condition where blood clots form in deep veins, usually in the legs.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF VTE prophylaxis guideline in the library. Needed: a WHO or MSF VTE guideline. The definition above is only a term entry.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No surgical safety checklist guideline in the GMJ library yet. Needed: WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and Guidelines for Safe Surgery.

• ArticleFDA Issues Early Alert on Draeger Anesthesia Machine Ventilator Failures
  2026-05-20
  US FDA early alert on a manufacturing defect that can cause ventilator failure during surgery. Relevant to the anaesthesia machine checks in this criterion.
• ArticleDraeger Anesthesia Workstations Under Correction for Ventilator Failure Risk
  2026-07-10
  Manufacturer correction for the same anaesthesia workstation models. Shows what action to take when an equipment correction is issued.
• ArticleRegional Nerve Block Reduces Opioid Use After Heart Surgery by 25%, Multicentre Trial Shows
  2026-05-29
  Randomised multicentre trial on regional anaesthesia to reduce opioid use after cardiac surgery.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF anaesthesia safety guideline in the GMJ library yet.

• GuidelineGlobal guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection, second edition
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Guideline
  WHO, second edition (GMJ record dated 2023). Prevention of surgical site infection in all surgical procedures and age groups. Some recommendations are not applicable to children.
• GuidelineImplementation manual to support the prevention of surgical site infections at the facility level: turning recommendations into practice
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Implementation manual (interim version)
  WHO (2020, interim version). Facility-level steps to put surgical site infection prevention into practice. It covers prevention, not infection tracking.
• DefinitionSurgical site infection
  GMJ dictionary
  ICD-11 category NE81.2 (WHO). Short coded definition of surgical site infection.
• ArticleFDA Issues Early Alert Over Non-Sterile BD ChloraPrep Applicators in Medline Convenience Kits
  2026-10-02
  FDA alert on sterility of a skin antiseptic applicator. Pre-operative skin antisepsis is part of surgical site infection prevention.

• GuidelineGlobal Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030: Towards Eliminating Avoidable Harm in Health Care
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Global strategy
  WHO (2021). General patient-safety strategy. Covers medication errors and the Medication Without Harm challenge. It is not specific to look-alike medicines.

Still open: No look-alike, sound-alike specific guideline in the GMJ library. The patient safety plan above covers medication errors in general. Needed: a WHO look-alike, sound-alike medicines guidance, or a flagged non-WHO source if no WHO one exists.

• GuidelineClinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) · 2022 · Clinical practice guideline
  Non-WHO (US CDC, 2022 edition). Recommendations for outpatient opioid prescribing for acute, subacute and chronic pain in adults. No WHO prescribing guideline for pain was found in the library.
• DefinitionOpioid intoxication
  GMJ dictionary
  Opioid intoxication: excessive opioids in the body lead to toxic effects. Relevant to the safe-use part of this criterion.
• ArticleOpioid agonist treatment cuts mortality risk in French primary care—largest nationwide study yet
  2026-08-22
  Nationwide French cohort study (Lancet Public Health) on opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder. It supports the misuse part of this criterion. It is not about prescribing for pain.

Still open: No WHO guidance on opioid prescribing for pain in the library. Needed: WHO guidance on opioid use in pain (for example, cancer pain) if available, to replace or sit beside the non-WHO CDC guideline above.

• GuidelineGuidelines on the management of chronic pain in children
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (1st edition 2020, published 2021). Physical, psychological and pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in children aged 0–19.
• GuidelineGuideline for non-surgical management of chronic primary low back pain in adults in primary and community care settings
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Guideline
  WHO (2023). Non-surgical care for chronic low back pain, including medicines, physical therapy and psychological interventions. Useful for pain care beyond opioids.
• DefinitionNeuropathic pain
  GMJ dictionary
  Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage or dysfunction of the nervous system.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on how to structure pain assessment and reassessment in the library. The two guidelines above cover pain management, not the assessment routine. Needed: a pain assessment tool or guideline.

• GuidelineStep Safely: Strategies for Preventing and Managing Falls Across the Life-Course
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Global falls strategies across the life-course, including environmental hazards. Relevant to handrails and trip hazards along patient routes.
• GuidelineFalls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk
  National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) · 2025 · Guideline
  Non-WHO (NICE, UK, 2025). Covers falls assessment and prevention in community, hospital inpatient and care settings for people aged 65 and over, and 50–64 at higher risk.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on handrails or trip-hazard standards in the library. The two falls guidelines above cover prevention in general. Needed: a built-environment or patient-route safety standard.

• GuidelineWater, Sanitation, and Hygiene Standards in Health Care Facilities
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Standards
  PAHO (2020). Water, sanitation and hygiene standards for health care facilities, including toilets and washrooms. It does not cover grab bars specifically.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on grab-bar placement in the library. Needed: an accessibility design standard for toilets and washrooms.

• GuidelineWater, Sanitation, and Hygiene Standards in Health Care Facilities
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Standards
  PAHO (2020). Facility toilet and washroom standards. Partial match: it does not set an accessible-toilet requirement.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO accessible-toilet standard in the library. Needed: an accessibility requirement for at least one toilet per facility.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guideline in the library covers toilet or washroom door design. Needed: an accessibility design standard.

• GuidelineHospital Safety Index: Guide for Evaluators, 2nd ed.
  World Health Organization · 2015 · Evaluation guide
  WHO (2nd edition, 2015; published 2021 on the GMJ record). Assesses structural and nonstructural hospital safety. Use for the environment checks, not for lighting levels.

Still open: No lighting standard in the library. The hospital safety index covers general nonstructural safety only. Needed: a lighting standard for corridors, stairs and washrooms.

• GuidelineFalls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk
  National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) · 2025 · Guideline
  Non-WHO (NICE, UK, 2025). Falls prevention in inpatient and community settings, including bed and environment factors.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO bed-height standard in the library. The NICE falls guideline is the only non-WHO match and is flagged as such.

• DefinitionAbnormalities of gait and mobility
  GMJ dictionary
  Abnormalities of gait and mobility refer to difficulties or changes in a person's ability to move.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on walking aids or mobility equipment in the library. Needed: an assistive-technology guideline (for example, the WHO assistive technology report).

• GuidelineHospital Safety Index: Guide for Evaluators, 2nd ed.
  World Health Organization · 2015 · Evaluation guide
  WHO (2nd edition, 2015; published 2021 on the GMJ record). Nonstructural safety assessment, which includes clear and safe routes through the facility.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO standard on clutter or trip hazards along patient routes in the library. The hospital safety index is a general evaluation tool.

• GuidelineUniversal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Global guidance on safe blood supply: donor selection and screening, testing, bi-directional traceability and haemovigilance, and quality systems.
• ArticleWHO: voluntary blood donations now above 85% globally
  2026-06-28
  News summary of the WHO report on voluntary donation (June 2026). Relevant to donor selection.

• GuidelineUniversal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Global guidance on safe blood supply: donor selection and screening, testing, bi-directional traceability and haemovigilance, and quality systems.

• GuidelineUniversal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Global guidance on safe blood supply: donor selection and screening, testing, bi-directional traceability and haemovigilance, and quality systems.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF storage and transport standard for blood products in the library. Needed: a WHO or PAHO cold-chain and blood transport guidance.

• DefinitionMismatched blood used in transfusion
  GMJ dictionary
  ICD-11 category PL14.3 (WHO). Short coded definition of a transfusion of mismatched blood.

Still open: Only a coded definition of mismatched transfusion is in the library. Needed: a WHO issuing and bedside-check guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on staff qualification for blood banks in the library. Needed: a WHO blood-service workforce guidance.

• GuidelineThe Clinical Use of Blood in Medicine, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery and Anaesthesia, Trauma and Burns
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Clinical transfusion practice across specialties. Sets out the transfusion risks, including adverse reactions, and says to transfuse only when benefit outweighs risk. It does not give issuing or release checks.
• DefinitionTransfusion related acute lung injury
  GMJ dictionary
  A condition that occurs after a blood transfusion, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.

• GuidelineUniversal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Global guidance on safe blood supply: donor selection and screening, testing, bi-directional traceability and haemovigilance, and quality systems.
• ArticleWHO global blood safety report: access gaps remain
  2026-06-27
  News summary of the WHO blood safety report (June 2026). Progress in blood safety, with persistent access gaps in lower-income countries.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF guidance on emergency blood release in the library. Needed: a WHO emergency-release procedure guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on selecting patients for same-day surgery in the library. Needed: a day-surgery patient selection guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on anaesthesia staffing for day surgery in the library (see 2.2). Needed: an anaesthesia safety guideline.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No recovery monitoring or discharge-criteria guidance in the library. Needed: a day-surgery recovery and discharge standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on discharge escort and advice in the library. Needed: a day-surgery discharge guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, which covers theatre checks, is not in the library yet (see 2.1). Needed: the WHO checklist and guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO tracking protocol for surgical site infection in the library. The WHO facility manual covers prevention only. Needed: a surveillance guidance for surgical site infection.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on reviewing unplanned admissions in the library. Needed: a day-surgery quality indicator guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO anaesthesia safety guideline in the library (see 2.2). Needed: a WHO anaesthesia safety guideline.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is not in the library yet (see 2.1). Needed: the WHO checklist and guidance.

• GuidelineGlobal guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection, second edition
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Guideline
  WHO, second edition (GMJ record dated 2023). Prevention of surgical site infection in all surgical procedures and age groups. Some recommendations are not applicable to children.
• GuidelineImplementation manual to support the prevention of surgical site infections at the facility level: turning recommendations into practice
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Implementation manual (interim version)
  WHO (2020, interim version). Facility-level steps to put surgical site infection prevention into practice. It covers prevention, not infection tracking.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO (1st edition, 2025). Global operational standards for ambulance systems: 24/7 dispatch, response-time targets, medical control, standard clinical protocols and quality improvement. Partial match for this standard: it does not set call-answer, call-triage or call-recording rules.
• DefinitionEmergency Medical Services
  GMJ dictionary
  Emergency Medical Services provide rapid and effective medical care in urgent situations.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO (1st edition, 2025). Global operational standards for ambulance systems: 24/7 dispatch, response-time targets, medical control, standard clinical protocols and quality improvement. Partial match for this standard: it does not set call-answer, call-triage or call-recording rules.

Still open: The WHO ambulance guidance covers dispatch and clinical protocols, but has no rule for triaging calls by clinical priority. Needed: a call-triage standard.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO (1st edition, 2025). Global operational standards for ambulance systems: 24/7 dispatch, response-time targets, medical control, standard clinical protocols and quality improvement. Partial match for this standard: it does not set call-answer, call-triage or call-recording rules.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on call-handling training in the library. The ambulance guidance covers crew certification only. Needed: a dispatcher training standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on recording every call in the library. Needed: a call-recording standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on dispatch system resilience in the library. Needed: a continuity planning guidance for dispatch.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The ambulance guidance includes quality-improvement targets, but no call review method. Needed: a call-review standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on re-prioritising and escalating waiting calls in the library. Needed: a waiting-call standard.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO (1st edition, 2025). Global operational standards for ambulance systems: 24/7 dispatch, response-time targets, medical control, standard clinical protocols and quality improvement. Partial match for this standard: it does not set call-answer, call-triage or call-recording rules.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on the end of the provider's responsibility at dispatch in the library. Needed: a handover-of-responsibility standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on dispatch decision rules or the right to refuse in the library. Needed: a dispatch decision standard.

• GuidelineGuideline for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Guideline
  WHO (1st edition, 2025). Clinical guidance on female, male and unexplained infertility, including assisted reproductive technologies. Partial match: it does not set consent, storage, traceability or price rules.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on stage-specific consent for fertility treatment in the library. Needed: a consent standard for assisted reproduction.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The WHO transplant principles cover tissue traceability but do not name gametes or embryos. Needed: a gamete and embryo traceability guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on secure storage and monitoring of gametes and embryos in the library. Needed: a laboratory storage standard.

• GuidelineGuiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Guiding principles
  WHO (record dated 2025). Principles for human cells, tissues and organs: voluntary donation with informed consent, donor evaluation, traceability systems, and quality and safety monitoring. Covers donation generally; gametes and embryos are not named in detail.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on staff qualification for fertility clinics in the library. Needed: a fertility workforce standard.

• GuidelineGuiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Guiding principles
  WHO (record dated 2025). Principles for human cells, tissues and organs: voluntary donation with informed consent, donor evaluation, traceability systems, and quality and safety monitoring. Covers donation generally; gametes and embryos are not named in detail.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on psychological support for fertility patients in the library. Needed: a psychosocial support guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on responding to a gamete or embryo mix-up in the library. Needed: a mix-up response guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on disclosing prices before treatment in the library. Needed: a fertility cost-transparency standard.

• GuidelineGuiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Guiding principles
  WHO (record dated 2025). Principles for human cells, tissues and organs: voluntary donation with informed consent, donor evaluation, traceability systems, and quality and safety monitoring. Covers donation generally; gametes and embryos are not named in detail.

• GuidelineTechnical recommendations for the configuration of a specialized Emergency Medical Team for the treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Version 3.5
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Technical recommendations
  PAHO (version 3.5, 2020). Set-up and operating standards for a 30-bed field hospital. COVID-era: written for severe respiratory infection and COVID-19; used here only for general set-up and operation.
• GuidelineRecommendations for medical surge capacity and deployment of emergency medical teams
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Recommendations
  PAHO (version 2, 2020). Medical surge capacity, deployment of emergency medical teams and alternative care sites. Partial match for staffing and set-up.

Still open: Set-up standards are in the PAHO field-hospital guide (COVID-era). No general minimum set-up standard for a field unit yet. Needed: a WHO or PAHO field-unit minimum standard.

• GuidelineStandards and recommendations for burns care in mass casualty incidents
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Standards and recommendations
  WHO (2024). Triage and care of burns patients in mass-casualty incidents. Partial match: burns-specific triage, not a field hospital triage standard.
• GuidelineEmergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT): Manual for Participants
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Training manual
  WHO (2021). Structured triage of sick children in emergency care. Partial match: children only.

Still open: Triage here is covered for burns and for children only. Needed: a general field-hospital triage standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF surgical safety standard for field surgery in the library. Needed: the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (see 2.1).

• GuidelineUniversal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Safe blood supply: donor selection, testing, traceability. Partial match for blood management under constraint.
• GuidelineModel List of Essential Medicines, 24th list
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Essential medicines list
  WHO (24th list, 2025). Core medicines list. Partial match for medicine supply planning.

Still open: Blood and medicine supply are covered in general terms only. Needed: a field-unit supply management guidance.

• GuidelineEVAC-H: Evacuation of hospitals and their critical areas
  Pan American Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  PAHO (2025). Evacuation of hospitals and their critical areas (emergency department, ICU, operating rooms). Partial match: covers evacuation and transfer, not every referral route.

Still open: Evacuation planning is covered (PAHO 2025). Referral routes are not defined in the library. Needed: a referral pathway guidance.

• GuidelineRecommendations for medical surge capacity and deployment of emergency medical teams
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Recommendations
  PAHO (version 2, 2020). Medical surge capacity, deployment of emergency medical teams and alternative care sites. Partial match for staffing and set-up.

Still open: Staffing and deployment are covered for emergency medical teams. No staff qualification standard for field units. Needed: a qualification standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on record keeping in a field unit in the library. Needed: a field-unit records standard.

• GuidelineMinimum requirements for infection prevention and control programmes
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Minimum requirements
  WHO (2020). Minimum requirements for infection prevention and control programmes at facility and national levels.

Still open: Infection prevention is covered for facilities in general, not outbreak response in a field unit. Needed: an outbreak-response guidance for field units.

• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Guide
  WHO (2022). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including workplace violence and staff psychosocial support.

Still open: Staff protection is covered (WHO occupational health). Patient protection in a field unit is not. Needed: a patient-protection plan standard.

• GuidelineMental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) guideline for mental, neurological and substance use disorders
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Guideline
  WHO (2023). mhGAP guideline for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
• GuidelinemhGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings – Bangladesh Version 2021
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Intervention guide
  WHO (2025). mhGAP intervention guide for non-specialized health care settings.

Still open: Mental health care is covered for non-specialist settings. No field-unit psychosocial support standard. Needed: a psychosocial support guidance for emergencies.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on handover to permanent services in the library. Needed: a handover standard for field units.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on checking donated medicines and equipment in the library. Needed: a donation-quality guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF clinical response guidance for sexual violence in the library. Needed: a WHO clinical management guidance for survivors.

• GuidelineStandards and recommendations for burns care in mass casualty incidents
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Standards and recommendations
  WHO (2024). Triage and care of burns patients in mass-casualty incidents. Partial match: burns-specific triage, not a field hospital triage standard.
• GuidelinePaediatric emergency triage, assessment and treatment: care of critically-ill children
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Guideline
  WHO (2020). Triage, assessment and treatment of critically ill children. Partial match: children only.

Still open: Urgency triage is covered for burns and for children only. Needed: a general field-hospital triage standard.

• GuidelineResilient Hospitals: An inter-regional guidance on strengthening resilience to health emergencies and disasters in health facilities
  Pan American Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance
  PAHO (2024). All-hazards hospital resilience framework, including mass-casualty preparedness.
• GuidelineStandards and recommendations for burns care in mass casualty incidents
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Standards and recommendations
  WHO (2024). Triage and care of burns patients in mass-casualty incidents. Partial match: burns-specific triage, not a field hospital triage standard.

Still open: Mass-casualty and resilience planning is covered (PAHO 2024). No rehearsal standard. Needed: a rehearsal requirement guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is not in the library yet (see 2.1). Needed: the WHO checklist and guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO anaesthesia safety guideline in the library (see 2.2). Needed: a WHO anaesthesia safety guideline.

• GuidelineGlobal guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection, second edition
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Guideline
  WHO, second edition (GMJ record dated 2023). Prevention of surgical site infection in all surgical procedures.
• GuidelineImplementation manual to support the prevention of surgical site infections at the facility level: turning recommendations into practice
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Implementation manual (interim version)
  WHO (2020, interim). Facility-level steps to put surgical site infection prevention into practice.

• GuidelineThe Clinical Use of Blood in Medicine, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Surgery and Anaesthesia, Trauma and Burns
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guideline
  WHO (2021). Clinical transfusion practice. Partial match: sets transfusion risk and appropriate use, not a verification checklist.

Still open: Transfusion practice is covered. No bedside verification checklist is in the library. Needed: a WHO verification guidance.

• GuidelineEVAC-H: Evacuation of hospitals and their critical areas
  Pan American Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  PAHO (2025). Evacuation of hospitals and their critical areas (emergency department, ICU, operating rooms). Partial match: covers evacuation and transfer, not every referral route.

Still open: Transfer planning is covered in the PAHO evacuation guide. Back-up transport is not. Needed: a transfer plan standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No dispatch decision or right-to-refuse guidance for field units in the library (see 7.x for ambulance dispatch). Needed: a dispatch decision standard.

• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Guide
  WHO (2022). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including workplace violence and staff psychosocial support.

Still open: Workplace violence is covered by the WHO occupational health guide (partial). Needed: a field-unit security standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on specific protections for vulnerable patients in a field unit in the library. Needed: a vulnerable-patient protection standard.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.
• GuidelineClinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) · 2022 · Clinical practice guideline
  Non-WHO (US CDC, 2022). Outpatient opioid prescribing for pain. Relevant to safe opioid management in palliative care.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.

Still open: The WHO palliative guidance mentions advance care plans, but there is no standard for recording a patient's goals. Needed: a goals-of-care recording standard.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.
• GuidelineLong-term care for older people: package for universal health coverage
  World Health Organization · 2024 · Guidance (normative)
  WHO (2024). Long-term care package that includes unpaid carers as recipients of support. Partial match for carer support.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.

Still open: The WHO palliative guidance defines palliative care to include spiritual and psychological needs. It sets no service standard for them. Needed: a psychosocial and spiritual care standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on dignity at the end of life beyond general palliative principles. Needed: an end-of-life dignity standard.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.

No additional material yet.

Still open: Bereavement support is only mentioned in passing in the library's palliative guidance. Needed: a bereavement follow-up guidance.

• GuidelineQuality health services and palliative care: practical approaches and resources to support policy, strategy and practice
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Guidance
  WHO (2021). Palliative care quality, policy, families, training and service review. It covers palliative care as a whole, so items below are partial matches for each sub-criterion.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on out-of-hours symptom advice in the library. Needed: an out-of-hours palliative guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF guidance on treatment limits in the library. Needed: an advance care planning guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO, PAHO or MSF pre-procedure assessment guidance in the library. Needed: a pre-procedure assessment standard.

• GuidelineMedication Without Harm – Global Patient Safety Challenge on Medication Safety
  World Health Organization · 2017 · Global challenge
  WHO (2017, published on the GMJ record 2020). Medication error reduction, including labelling and storage. Partial match for product verification.

Still open: Medication safety is covered in general. No product verification or storage standard for procedure units. Needed: a product verification guidance.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on practitioner training for each procedure in the library. Needed: a procedure competency standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on procedure-specific consent in the library. Needed: a consent standard for procedures.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on managing procedure complications in the library. Needed: a complications pathway guidance.

• GuidelineEmergency treatment of anaphylaxis: guidelines for healthcare providers
  Resuscitation Council UK · 2021 · Clinical guideline
  Non-WHO (Resuscitation Council UK, 2021). Emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. Partial match: anaphylaxis only, not all procedure emergencies.

Still open: Emergency treatment is covered only for anaphylaxis. No general procedure emergency standard. Needed: an emergency readiness guidance for procedure units.

• GuidelineDecontamination and Reprocessing of Medical Devices for Health-care Facilities
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Guideline
  WHO (2020). Decontamination, sterile processing and endoscope reprocessing for facilities with surgical or invasive procedures.
• GuidelineMinimum requirements for infection prevention and control programmes
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Minimum requirements
  WHO (2020). Minimum infection prevention and control requirements for facilities. Partial match for procedure areas.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on follow-up after procedures in the library. Needed: a follow-up standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO or PAHO guidance on product recalls or adverse-reaction action in the library. Needed: a recall and adverse-reaction guidance.

• GuidelineToolkit for adaptation of the WHO recommendations for a positive pregnancy and postnatal experience
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Adaptation toolkit
  Implementation tool for national adaptation of WHO antenatal and postnatal care recommendations.
• GuidelineAntenatal consultations — MSF Essential obstetric and newborn care
  Médecins Sans Frontières · 2026 · Field clinical guideline
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). Antenatal care in resource-limited and humanitarian settings; use for schedule detail only with WHO context.

Still open: Core WHO antenatal care recommendations are not yet confirmed in the library; the WHO adaptation toolkit is used as the schedule reference.

• GuidelineSafe Childbirth Checklist Implementation Guide: Improving the quality of facility-based delivery for mothers and newborns
  World Health Organization · 2015 · Implementation guide
  WHO 2015 first edition. Facility-based childbirth from admission to discharge.
• GuidelineLabour Care Guide: Implementation Resource Package
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Implementation package
  WHO 2025. Partograph replacement support for monitoring labour; attendance by skilled staff.
• GuidelineNormal delivery — Essential obstetric and newborn care — MSF Essential obstetric and newborn care
  Médecins Sans Frontières · 2026 · Field clinical guideline
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). Normal vaginal delivery only (section 5.1).

Still open: No WHO skilled-birth-attendant competency standard is in the library yet.

• GuidelineRecommendations for the Management of Major Obstetric Emergencies
  Pan American Health Organization · 2024 · Clinical recommendations
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2024 first edition). Covers obstetric emergency response and early-warning recognition.

Still open: No WHO-issued obstetric emergency response guidance verified yet; PAHO 2024 used.

• GuidelineConsolidated guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Consolidated guideline
  WHO 2025. Antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum interventions for PPH in all settings.

Still open: Transfusion safety guidance for obstetric emergencies is not yet in the library.

• GuidelineStandards for improving the quality of care for small and sick newborns in health facilities
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Quality standards
  WHO 2020 first edition. Inpatient newborn care in all facilities providing it.
• GuidelineEvidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Follow-Up of At-Risk Neonates
  Pan American Health Organization · 2021 · Clinical practice guideline
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2021). Follow-up of at-risk neonates from NICU discharge to two years corrected age.

Still open: WHO neonatal resuscitation guidance is not yet verified; newborn quality standards and PAHO follow-up guidance used.

• GuidelineToolkit for adaptation of the WHO recommendations for a positive pregnancy and postnatal experience
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Adaptation toolkit
  Implementation tool for national adaptation of WHO antenatal and postnatal care recommendations.

Still open: Postnatal care schedule is covered only by the WHO adaptation toolkit; the WHO postnatal recommendations themselves are not yet confirmed.

• GuidelineTool for Promoting Culturally Safe Childbirth: Basic Manual
  Pan American Health Organization · 2023 · Assessment tool
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2023). Respectful, culturally safe maternity care and informed choice for Indigenous and ethnic-minority women.

Still open: WHO respectful maternity care guidance is not yet verified; PAHO culturally safe childbirth tool used.

No additional material yet.

Still open: Maternal and perinatal death review guidance is not in the library. Needed: WHO MPDSR (maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response).

• GuidelineProtecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services: the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative: monitoring manual
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Monitoring manual
  WHO 2025. Global, all facilities providing maternity and newborn services; covers rooming-in and early breastfeeding.

Still open: Mother-newborn rooming-in is covered through the breastfeeding monitoring manual; no separate WHO rooming-in standard yet.

• GuidelineRecommendations for the Management of Major Obstetric Emergencies
  Pan American Health Organization · 2024 · Clinical recommendations
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2024 first edition). Covers obstetric emergency response and early-warning recognition.

Still open: No dedicated maternal early-warning tool guidance is verified yet; obstetric early-warning content from PAHO 2024 used.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No gynaecology assessment pathway guidance is in the library. Needed: WHO guidance on gynaecological care.

• GuidelineMedical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, 6th edition
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Clinical guideline
  WHO 2025 (6th edition). Eligibility for each contraceptive method by health condition.
• GuidelineSelected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 4th edition
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Clinical recommendations
  WHO 2025 (4th edition). Practical use of contraceptive methods, including postpartum and breastfeeding use.
• GuidelineScaling up postpregnancy family planning: practical guide
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Practical guide
  WHO 2025. Postpregnancy family planning for low-, middle- and high-income settings.

Still open: Coverage is WHO 2025; no WHO-published item on counselling for reproductive choice beyond these.

• GuidelineEvidence-informed guidance for the implementation of HPV-based cervical cancer screening programmes
  World Health Organization · 2026 · Implementation guidance
  WHO 2026 (first edition). Cervical screening programme implementation, including follow-up.
• GuidelineGuideline for screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention: use of HPV DNA genotyping
  World Health Organization · 2026 · Clinical guideline
  WHO 2026. Screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancer using HPV DNA genotyping.

Still open: Breast cancer early-detection guidance is not in the library. Needed: WHO breast cancer early detection guidance.

• GuidelineIntrauterine foetal death — MSF Essential obstetric and newborn care
  Médecins Sans Frontières · 2026 · Field clinical guideline
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). Intrauterine foetal death from 23 weeks gestation: management and family support.
• GuidelineAbortion — MSF Essential obstetric and newborn care
  Médecins Sans Frontières · 2026 · Field clinical guideline
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). Abortion before 22 weeks LMP; counselling and informed choice.

Still open: WHO guidance on miscarriage and abortion care is not yet verified; MSF field guidance (non-WHO) used.

• GuidelineRecommendations for the Management of Major Obstetric Emergencies
  Pan American Health Organization · 2024 · Clinical recommendations
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2024 first edition). Covers obstetric emergency response and early-warning recognition.

Still open: No general deterioration or sepsis recognition tool is verified yet; PAHO 2024 used for obstetric early warning.

• GuidelineEmergency ready primary health care framework
  World Health Organization · 2026 · Framework
  Global all-hazards framework; community engagement and emergency readiness for primary health care.

Still open: No WHO site-assessment tool for mobile outreach sites is in the library. Needed: outreach site assessment checklist.

• GuidelineModel List of Essential Medicines, 24th list
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Essential medicines list
  WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025). Basis for the medicine kit a mobile unit carries.
• GuidelineGuidelines for healthcare workers on the proper interpretation of vaccine vial monitors and their use
  Pan American Health Organization · 2023 · Guidance for health workers
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2023). Vaccine cold chain and handling during outreach and mobile vaccination.
• GuidelineBrief overview of anaphylaxis as an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) and practical guidance on its identification, case management and response in a primary care setting
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Safety guidance
  WHO 2021 brief overview of anaphylaxis after immunization, with practical guidance for primary care vaccination settings. Equipment and drugs for emergencies.

Still open: No WHO standard kit list for mobile outreach is in the library yet; medicines list and vaccination guidance used.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO 2025. Prehospital emergency care for ambulance systems; covers transport and handover. Vehicle maintenance is not the main topic.
• GuidelineMalaria control in emergencies: field manual
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Field manual
  WHO 2025 field manual. Malaria control in emergencies; includes referral pathways for mobile and field teams.
• GuidelineManagement of Inter-Hospital Transfer of Patients with COVID-19
  Pan American Health Organization · 2022 · Operational guidance
  Non-WHO (PAHO, October 2022). COVID-era: inter-hospital transfer of COVID-19 patients. Principles apply to transfer generally; labelled COVID-era.

Still open: No general referral and transfer standard for mobile units is in the library. The COVID-era PAHO transfer item is used only as a principle source.

• GuidelineGlobal Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030: Towards Eliminating Avoidable Harm in Health Care
  World Health Organization · 2021 · Action plan
  WHO 2021 Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. Records and safe handover of care in all settings.

Still open: No WHO guidance on record-keeping for mobile clinics is in the library. Needed: outreach record-keeping guidance.

• GuidelinemhGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings – Bangladesh Version 2021
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Intervention guide
  WHO 2025 mhGAP Intervention Guide for non-specialist health settings, including community and outreach training and follow-up.
• GuidelineMental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) guideline for mental, neurological and substance use disorders
  World Health Organization · 2023 · Clinical guideline
  WHO 2023 mhGAP guideline. Training and supervision of non-specialist staff for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
• GuidelinePaediatric emergency triage, assessment and treatment: care of critically-ill children
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Clinical guideline
  WHO 2020. Paediatric emergency triage and critical care; staff training for emergency response.

Still open: No WHO training standard specific to outreach staff is in the library; mhGAP and paediatric emergency guidance used.

• GuidelinePatient Engagement: Technical Series on Safer Primary Care
  World Health Organization · 2020 · Technical series
  WHO 2020 (first edition 2016). Patient engagement in primary care; informed participation and communication.

Still open: No WHO consent guidance for community or outreach settings is in the library.

• GuidelineGuidelines for the implementation of multi-month dispensing of antiretrovirals
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Implementation guideline
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2020). Multi-month dispensing of antiretrovirals; continuity of supply and follow-up for patients.
• GuidelinemhGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings – Bangladesh Version 2021
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Intervention guide
  WHO 2025 mhGAP Intervention Guide for non-specialist health settings, including community and outreach training and follow-up.

Still open: No WHO follow-up standard for outreach patients beyond these items is in the library.

• GuidelineManual for respiratory virus vaccination coverage: monitoring and reporting seasonal influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus immunization
  World Health Organization · 2026 · Manual
  WHO 2026 manual. Vaccination coverage monitoring and reporting; applies to outreach and campaign sites.
• GuidelineGuidance on active case-finding for acute flaccid paralysis, measles, and rubella
  Pan American Health Organization · 2025 · Guidance
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2025). Active case-finding in communities, with outreach teams and coverage reporting.

Still open: Coverage review for non-vaccine outreach services is not yet in the library.

• GuidelinePrehospital emergency care – operational guidance for ambulance systems
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Operational guidance
  WHO 2025. Prehospital emergency care for ambulance systems; covers transport and handover. Vehicle maintenance is not the main topic.

Still open: No WHO vehicle roadworthiness or equipment check standard is in the library. Ambulance operations guidance used for operations only.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No lone-working check-in or response guidance is in the library. Needed: lone and remote working safety guidance.

• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Implementation guide
  WHO 2022 (first edition). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including exposure, employer duties and reporting.

Still open: No WHO confidentiality standard for occupational assessments is in the library. Needed: occupational health records and confidentiality guidance.

• GuidelineInfection Prevention and Control Pre-Service Education and Training Curriculum: Foundational Learning for All Health and Care Workers
  World Health Organization · 2025 · Curriculum
  WHO 2025. Infection prevention and control pre-service training for all health workers; competence for protecting staff.

Still open: No WHO standard for occupational health assessor qualification is in the library. The IPC curriculum is general training, not assessment-specific.

• GuidelineBCG vaccination for staff exposed to tuberculosis — MSF Tuberculosis
  Médecins Sans Frontières · Field clinical guidance
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). BCG vaccination for healthcare staff with occupational TB exposure, with screening and counselling.
• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Implementation guide
  WHO 2022 (first edition). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including exposure, employer duties and reporting.

Still open: No WHO schedule for staff health surveillance is in the library. Needed: baseline and periodic occupational health surveillance schedule.

• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Implementation guide
  WHO 2022 (first edition). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including exposure, employer duties and reporting.

Still open: No WHO guidance on reporting concerns to employers is in the library. Needed: guidance on confidential fitness reporting.

• GuidelineRespiratory protection measures in health facilities — MSF Tuberculosis
  Médecins Sans Frontières · Field clinical guidance
  Non-WHO (MSF, current online edition). Respiratory protection for staff in health facilities during TB infection prevention.
• GuidelineCaring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers
  World Health Organization · 2022 · Implementation guide
  WHO 2022 (first edition). Occupational health and safety programmes for health workers, including exposure, employer duties and reporting.
• GuidelineCare for health workers exposed to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in health facilities
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · Operational guidance
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 2020). COVID-era: management of occupational exposure of health workers, including return to work and sick leave.

Still open: Workplace advice relies on MSF respiratory protection and WHO occupational guidance; the COVID-era PAHO item is labelled.

• GuidelineFrequently asked questions for the management of health workers in response to COVID-19
  Pan American Health Organization · 2020 · FAQ
  Non-WHO (PAHO, 7 May 2020 version). COVID-era: management of health workers, including roles, exposure and mental health.

Still open: Return-to-work guidance is COVID-era only (PAHO 2020). Needed: general return-to-work guidance for health workers.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No WHO guidance on separating assessor and employer roles is in the library. Needed: occupational health independence standard.

No additional material yet.

Still open: No guidance on worker access to outcomes or review processes is in the library. Needed: worker review and appeal guidance.