Role of professional associations in the drive for policy change and uptake of new WHO recommendations for the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.

The role of professional associations in the health ecosystem is crucial as they establish and uphold standards of professional practice, ethics, and continuing education, thereby safeguarding patient welfare and promoting accountability among practitioners. Their role is particularly important in combating postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), as outlined in the WHO PPH Roadmap's four strategic pillars: research, norms and standards, implementation, and advocacy. Professional societies, such as obstetrics/gynecology and midwifery associations and other collaborating cadres, such as anesthetists and pharmacists, can elevate PPH as a political and public health priority by raising awareness of its prevention and treatment. Advocating for access to quality uterotonics like heat-stable carbetocin is critical for effective PPH management, especially in countries that lack effective cold chain or have supply chains that cannot guarantee access to quality oxytocin. The Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PPHI) project, through the professional associations across six countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia), aimed to generate implementation evidence, create an enabling environment, and prepare national supply chains and markets for the adoption of three WHO newly recommended PPH drugs: heat-stable carbetocin, tranexamic acid, and misoprostol for advance distribution, in low- and middle-income countries. The Policy Change Cycle tool and SMART Advocacy approach were used during the project to influence government action on PPH management and commodity adoption. Progress was tracked and reviewed using the SMART Advocacy tool. Across six diverse countries, professional associations of obstetrics and gynecology successfully advocated for the institutionalization of WHO-recommended PPH interventions, by leveraging their trusted relationship with government, employing strategic advocacy frameworks, and navigating complex policy environments. Key enablers included the credibility of professional associations with Ministries of Health, strong collaboration among stakeholders, and alignment with government priorities. Barriers included insufficient government budget allocation to implement the PPH interventions nationwide, as well as professional associations' limited financial resources and insufficient capacity for effective advocacy. The AMPLI-PPHI experience demonstrates that national health professional associations, when supported with adequate financing and technical advocacy skills, can be powerful catalysts of health policy and practice. Formalizing and strengthening the role of professional associations in global and national health policy processes and advocacy is essential for accelerating progress toward achieving maternal health goals and building resilient, evidence-driven health systems.