The pathway for surgery as an integral part of attaining universal health coverage

Surgery and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have both been called the neglected stepchildren of global health. Both fields receive disproportionately low attention, prioritisation, and funding despite the burden of disease and their importance to the attainment of multiple health-related targets described in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NCDs are responsible for 74% of all deaths globally and surgery is involved in managing nearly a third of the global burden of disease. 1 WHOGlobal status report on noncommunicable diseases. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/148114Date: 2014 Date accessed: November 22, 2023 Google Scholar However, most people in low-income and middle-income countries do not have access to safe, affordable, and timely surgery. Only 25% of patients with cancer receive surgery, whereas an estimated 80% of patients need it at some point in their treatment. 2 Sullivan R Alatise OI Anderson BO et al. Global cancer surgery: delivering safe, affordable, and timely cancer surgery. Lancet Oncol. 2015; 16: 1193-1224 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (400) Google Scholar Global Cancer Surgery: pragmatic solutions to improve cancer surgery outcomes worldwideThe first Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery was published in 2015 and serves as a landmark paper in the field of cancer surgery. The Commission highlighted the burden of cancer and the importance of cancer surgery, while documenting the many inadequacies in the ability to deliver safe, timely, and affordable cancer surgical care. This Commission builds on the first Commission by focusing on solutions and actions to improve access to cancer surgery globally, developed by drawing upon the expertise from cancer surgery leaders across the world. Full-Text PDF