Program in Global Surgery and Social Change

Worldwide, 5 billion people lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care, while approximately one-third of the global disease burden will require surgical management. Those living in low- and middle-income countries face the largest gaps in care, which results in preventable death and disability and slows economic development. Evidence based policies are critical to addressing this problem. In 2015 the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery recommended the development of National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia Plans (NSOAPs) to address these gaps using a systems-based approach. These strategic plans have been undertaken in several countries in the Asia-Pacific Region, with many others expressing interest or commitment to NSOAPs. Additionally, the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific developed and approved a Regional Action Framework for Safe and Affordable Surgery in 2020, which provides a roadmap for improving access, quality, and affordability of surgery in the region.

This workshop, which took place during February and March of 2021, was primarily aimed at high-level global, regional, and country authorities and funders in the Asia-Pacific Region. The target audience includes governments, funding agencies, health and development organizations, professional societies, academic institutions, and private companies, among others. The key participants are listed below, along with recordings of all three webinars. 

Speakers: Strategic Planning to Improve Surgical Care