title: Global safe anaesthesia and surgery initiatives: implications for anaesthesia in the Pacific region.
abstract: In 2015 three major events occurred for global anaesthesia and surgery. In January, the World Bank published Disease Control Priorities 3rd edition (DCP 3rd edition). This volume, Essential Surgery, highlighted the cost effective role of anaesthesia and surgery in global health. In April, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery released its report "Global Surgery 2030: Evidence and solutions for achieving health, welfare, and economic development". The report focuses on five key areas to promote change including: access to timely surgery, surgical workforce and procedural capability, surgical volume, data collection such as perioperative mortality rate, and financial protection. In May, the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) voted in favour of Resolution A68/31: Strengthening emergency and essential surgical and anaesthesia care as a component of universal health coverage. The resolution was passed unanimously and it is the first time that surgery and anaesthesia have received such prominence at WHA level. These three events all have profound implications for the provision and access of safe anaesthesia and surgery in the Pacific region in the next 15 years. This article considers some of the regional factors that affect these five key areas, especially with regard to anaesthetic specialist workforce density in different parts of the region. There are many challenges to improve anaesthesia access, safety, and workforce density in the Pacific region. Future efforts, initiatives and support will help address these problems.
authors.affiliation: Chair, Overseas Aid Committee, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Adjunct Professor of Anaesthesiology, University of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Senior Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia, The Children's Hospital at Westmead and St George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Wake
authors.affiliation: Chair, Education Committee, World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists, Consultant Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Morriss
authors.affiliation: Policy Officer, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cargill
authors.affiliation: Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne, Chair, Overseas Development and Education Committee, Australian Society of Anaesthetists, Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McDougall
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010139:Pacific Islands; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Pacific; anaesthesia; global; surgery