Recasting the role of the surgeon in Uganda: a proposal to maximize the impact of surgery on public health
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical Medicine & International Health
Abstract
A growing body of recent evidence supports the essential role of surgical services in improving
population health in low-income countries. Nonetheless, access to surgical services in Uganda, as in
many low income countries, is severely limited, largely due to constraints in human resources,
infrastructure and supplies. To maximize the impact of surgical services on population health in the
context of Uganda’s limited surgical workforce, we propose a ‘recasting’ of the role of the surgeon.
Traditionally, the surgeon has played primarily a clinical role in patient care. The demands and
isolation of this role have limited the ability of the surgeon to tackle health systems issues related to
surgery. Now, the clinical and educational role played by surgeons must be redefined, and the
surgeon must also assume a greater role in leadership, management and public health advocacy by
documenting the unmet need for surgery and the resources required to improve access to care. Policy
and incentives for specialist surgeons to spend amounts of time apportioned to these roles should be
developed and supported by health care institutions. Political leadership and commitment will be
critical to realizing this ideal. Such a model may be applicable to other countries seeking to maximize
the impact of surgical services on population health.
Description
Keywords
surgeon, surgery, public health
Citation
Luboga, S., Galukande, M., & Ozgediz, D. (2009). Recasting the role of the surgeon in Uganda: a proposal to maximize the impact of surgery on public health. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 14(6), 604-608.doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.0226