The Consolidated guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage: Implementation guide provides a comprehensive, evidence-informed framework to support countries in translating global clinical recommendations into effective, sustained practice. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains one of the leading causes of preventable maternal mortality worldwide, despite the availability of proven, life-saving interventions.
Developed by the World Health Organization in collaboration with FIGO, ICM, Jhpiego and UNFPA, the guide responds directly to persistent implementation challenges that continue to limit the impact of existing PPH interventions. These challenges include weak policy alignment, fragile supply chains, limited health worker capacity and delays in diagnosis and treatment—factors that disproportionately affect women in low-resource and humanitarian settings.
At its core, the guide adopts the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment) framework, a structured, four-stage approach grounded in implementation science. This framework supports policymakers, programme managers and clinical leaders to systematically assess readiness, plan interventions, implement change and ensure long-term sustainability. The methodology is informed by extensive stakeholder consultation, including engagement with over 130 global experts and a technical workshop involving representatives from multiple countries across Africa and Asia.
The guide recognises that strengthening PPH response is not solely a technical challenge, but also a human and organisational one. It therefore emphasises leadership, communication and behaviour change as essential components of successful implementation. Complementing the EPIS framework, the guide encourages approaches that build on existing system strengths, foster stakeholder ownership and promote continuous learning and adaptation.
A key feature of the guide is its flexibility. It provides adaptable frameworks that can be tailored to diverse national and subnational contexts, while maintaining fidelity to evidence-based recommendations. Special consideration is given to fragile and humanitarian settings, where health systems face additional constraints and require context-specific strategies. The guide also highlights the importance of community engagement and culturally responsive approaches to ensure interventions are acceptable, equitable and sustainable.
The analysis identifies several critical success factors for effective implementation. Strong leadership and political commitment are essential to drive reform and mobilise resources. Broad stakeholder engagement, including policymakers, clinicians, communities and development partners, ensures that implementation efforts are inclusive and responsive to local needs. The guide also underscores the importance of placing women and girls at the centre of programme design and monitoring, ensuring that services are rights-based, respectful and responsive to their needs.
Resource alignment is another key priority, requiring countries to develop costed implementation plans and secure sustainable financing. Capacity strengthening extends beyond traditional training approaches to include mentorship, peer learning and system-wide improvements in referral networks and supply chains. The guide advocates for integrated, long-term approaches rather than one-off interventions, recognising that sustained impact requires continuous investment and system strengthening.
Ultimately, this implementation guide provides a practical roadmap for reducing preventable maternal deaths from postpartum haemorrhage. By addressing the systemic barriers that have limited progress to date, it supports countries to deliver high-quality, timely and equitable care. Its application can drive meaningful improvements in maternal health outcomes and contribute to global efforts to uphold women’s rights and achieve sustainable development goals.
