Ensuring safe and affordable surgery

Provision of safe and affordable surgical care is essential to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Universal provision of an essential surgical services package could prevent around 6–7% of all avertable deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Globally and regionally, however, surgical care has often been considered the “last frontier” of primary health care. An additional 143 million surgical procedures are needed each year to save lives and prevent disability.

In the Western Pacific Region, challenges vary widely between and within countries. Less than 80% of the population in many countries can reach facilities performing so-called Bellwether procedures (caesarean delivery, laparotomy and treatment of open fracture) within two hours, and as many as 1 in 100 patients die after a surgical procedure.

In many countries, skilled workforce densities remain low, lapses in patient safety and timely care are prevalent, and financial protection is not yet available for many people. These gaps have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further stressed existing systems.

WHO is supporting Member States to implement the Action Framework for Safe and Affordable Surgery in the Western Pacific Region (2021–2030), which aims to address gaps in safe surgery, including through improving data collection, health worker trainings, equipment and supplies, and coaching methods and materials on sterilization and surgical services. Since 2021, WHO has been working on safe and affordable surgery activities in Cambodia, Fiji, Mongolia and Vanuatu with ongoing dialogue in several other countries.