Developing a Sustaining Program of Surgical Care in the Developing World

The development of sustainable surgical systems in low- and middle-income countries is imperative given the rising burden of surgical disease processes. Surgical conditions now account for more than 11% of the overall burden of disease. Although the administration of surgical care has historically taken a variety of forms, a sustainable surgical model requires the utilization of robust clinical infrastructure, curricula for educating future staff and trainees, and research to promote quality improvement. Increasing the number of trained anesthesia providers, surgeons, and nurses is of utmost importance; task shifting may be necessary to most efficiently offset the shortage of health care providers.