Development of a Unifying Target and Consensus Indicators for Global Surgical Systems Strengthening: Proposed by the Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care (The G4 Alliance)

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Adil Haider, Brigham & Women's Hospital; John W. Scott, Brigham & Women's Hospital; Colin D. Gause, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital Chicago; Mira Mehes, Global Alliance for Surgery; Grace Hsiung, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital Chicago; Albulena Prelvukaj, Global Alliance for Surgery; Dana Yanocha, Global Alliance for Surgery; Lauren M. Baumann, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital Chicago; Steven Roser, Emory University; Richard Wagner, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-10-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017, The Author(s).
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-017-4028-1
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: World Journal of Surgery
• ISSN: 0364-2313
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 10
• Start Page: 2426
• End Page: 2434
• Keywords: SAFE; ACCESS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Surgery; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

After decades on the margins of primary health care, surgical and anaesthesia care is gaining increasing priority within the global development arena. The 2015 publications of the Disease Control Priorities third edition on Essential Surgery and the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery created a compelling evidenced-based argument for the fundamental role of surgery and anaesthesia within cost-effective health systems strengthening global strategy. The launch of the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia Care in 2015 has further coordinated efforts to build priority for surgical care and anaesthesia. These combined efforts culminated in the approval of a World Health Assembly resolution recognizing the role of surgical care and anaesthesia as part of universal health coverage. Momentum gained from these milestones highlights the need to identify consensus goals, targets and indicators to guide policy implementation and track progress at the national level. Through an open consultative process that incorporated input from stakeholders from around the globe, a global target calling for safe surgical and anaesthesia care for 80% of the world by 2030 was proposed. In order to achieve this target, we also propose 15 consensus indicators that build on existing surgical systems metrics and expand the ability to prioritize surgical systems strengthening around the world.