The Role of Plastic Surgeons in Advancing Development Global

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Care
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to improve lives and the planet, with a key focus on poverty, climate change, and inequality.
• Access to safe, affordable surgical and anesthesia care is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery reports that 28-32% of the global disease burden is treatable with surgery, yet five billion people lack access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the integration of surgical care, specifically plastic surgery, into international development and humanitarian efforts.
• To highlight surgery's role as a public health priority due to its cost-effectiveness and significant impact on disease burden.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the global burden of surgical disease.
• Review of existing literature on access to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Examination of the potential contribution of surgical specialties, like plastic surgery, to global development.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of the global disease burden is amenable to surgical intervention.
• A substantial disparity exists in access to safe surgical care, disproportionately affecting LMICs.
• Plastic surgery offers a unique opportunity to restore form and function, contributing to equity and poverty reduction.

Conclusions:

• Surgery is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of global health and sustainable development.
• Addressing the lack of surgical access in LMICs is essential for achieving global health equity.
• Integrating surgical services into development agendas can effectively reduce poverty and improve population health outcomes.