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Mapping the global neurosurgery workforce. Part 1: Consultant neurosurgeon density
Saksham Gupta1,2, Zsombor T Gal3, Tejas S Athni3
11Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Journal of Neurosurgery
|November 7, 2024
Summary
Global neurosurgeon density varies significantly by country income and WHO region, with low- and middle-income countries showing rapid workforce growth. Establishing national neurosurgery societies is linked to workforce expansion.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Neurosurgery Workforce Analysis
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Efforts to improve global access to neurosurgery are ongoing, but their impact on the neurosurgery workforce, especially in low- and middle-income countries, remains unclear.
- Understanding the current distribution and trends of neurosurgeons worldwide is crucial for addressing global health inequities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the global number and distribution of consultant neurosurgeons.
- To identify temporal and geographic trends in the neurosurgery workforce across different income levels and World Health Organization (WHO) regions.
- To analyze factors associated with national neurosurgery workforce growth.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted across 192 countries and 25 additional territories, states, and disputed regions.
- Population-weighted statistics for the consultant neurosurgery workforce and resource availability were estimated.
- Linear regression analysis was performed to identify correlations with workforce growth.
Main Results:
- An estimated 72,967 neurosurgeons exist globally, with a median density of 0.44 per 100,000 people, varying significantly by income level and WHO region.
- Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the Southeast Asia region demonstrated the highest annual growth rates in neurosurgeon density.
- Factors such as increasing population, presence of a national neurosurgery society, global development aid, and national GDP were associated with workforce growth.
Conclusions:
- A global consultant neurosurgeon workforce of nearly 73,000 was estimated, highlighting significant disparities in density and growth across World Bank income groups and WHO regions.
- The presence of a national neurosurgery society was positively correlated with workforce growth.
- The study identifies key regional targets for interventions aimed at expanding neurosurgical access globally.
