GLOBAL SURGERY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Global surgery is the neglected stepchild in global health. The neglect is more shocking in South Asia which has the largest population globally lacking access to essential surgery.

Global Surgery

• About: It is primarily dedicated to ensuring fair access to emergency and essential surgical services.
• Focus: The primary emphasis lies in addressing access gaps in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Inclusive Approach: The scope extends beyond LMICs to encompass prioritized attention to access disparities and underserved populations in high-income countries (HICs).
• Surgical Services: The term "surgeries" in this context encompasses crucial procedures like surgery, obstetrics, trauma, and anesthesia (SOTA).
• Consensus on Procedures: Despite minor variations, there exists a general consensus among various international groups regarding approximately thirty procedures falling within the realm of emergency and essential surgery.

Global consensus on global surgery

• 1st: One key development that played a significant role in this transformation was the Disease Control Priorities Network (DCPN) report on essential surgery sponsored by the World Bank.
• 2nd: The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) which brought together experts and stakeholders:

oTo examine the status of surgical care access around the world;

oIdeate the indicators for monitoring surgical care preparedness;

oSystemic capacity and impact; and

oTo develop implementable strategies such as the national surgical, obstetrics, and anaesthesia plan (NSOAP).