title: Challenges of meeting surgical needs in the developing world.
abstract: The burden of surgical conditions and diseases is increasing in low-income and middle-income countries, but the capacity to meet the demands they present is not following pace. Ongoing initiatives, such as brief visits by surgeons from advantaged countries, sending surgical residents to spend time in a developing country as part of their training, or ships weighing anchor offshore and offering some limited on-shore or on-board services, have not proven successful. More comprehensive and sustainable solutions include the development of local training programs, better retention of trainees with adequate incentives particularly in rural areas, and engaging government and professional associations, as well as academic institutions, to develop and implement policies to address local training needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. froggydoc@comcast.net
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: Yaw-Adu
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Gyamfi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Contini
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*