title: Global Neurosurgery: The Unmet Need.
abstract: Globally, the lack of access to basic surgical care causes 3 times as much deaths as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. The magnitude of this unmet need has been described recently, and the numbers are startling. Major shifts in global health agenda have highlighted access to essential and emergency surgery as a high priority. A broad examination of the current global neurosurgical efforts to improve access has revealed some strengths, particularly in the realm of training; however, the demand grossly outstrips the supply; most people in low-income countries do not have access to basic surgical care, either due to lack of availability or affordability. Projects that help create a robust and resilient health system within low- and middle-income countries require urgent implementation. In this context, concurrent scale-up of human resources, investments in capacity building, local data collection, and analysis for accurate assessment are essential. In addition, through process of collaboration and consensus building within the neurosurgical community, a unified voice of neurosurgery is necessary to effectively advocate for all those who need neurosurgical care wherever, whenever.
authors.affiliation: Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Preah Kossamak Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Electronic address: keepark@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kee B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Emergency & Essential Surgical Care Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Walter D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dempsey
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D020380:Needs Assessment; D000069471:Neurosurgeons / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends
keywords: Essential surgery; FIENS; Global neurosurgery; Global surgery; Health disparity; Health inequality; LMIC; WFNS; WHO