In a field like global health, it’s common to be inspired by lofty goals, and nearly just as common to become disillusioned when we come up short. Too often, we prioritize targets over actions, theoretical solutions over practical ones, long-term aims over the short-term grit needed to make them possible. Too often, the only way to bridge the gap between where we are and where we want to be is to pair ambitious goal-setting with concrete action-taking.

This week, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery set out to do just that. It published a roadmap in the inaugural issue of BMJ Global Health outlining a specific set of actions the global surgery community can undertake to reach the five billion people lacking access to safe surgery and improve the lives of the millions of people who suffer or die as a result.

Titled, “Global Surgery 2030: A Roadmap for High-Income-Country Actors,” the paper puts forth a series of recommendations for strengthening surgical and anesthesia care around the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where surgically treatable conditions are a leading cause of death and disability. It brings together experts from all angles of the surgery and anesthesia fields – including Gradian’s CEO, Stephen Rudy – to summarize the latest research on the topic and pinpoint real actions that academics, surgeons, donors, industry, media and advocates can take to move the needle. As Lancet Commission co-chair Dr. John Meara notes, “This report demonstrates a common policy agenda between major actors and provides a roadmap for maximizing benefit to surgical patients worldwide.”

bmj factsheet

A medical technology company devoted to this vision, we are delighted to be a part of the movement. In the paper, the authors call on the device industry to “design and manufacture user-centered equipment appropriate for resource-limited environments and to train LMIC health professionals and biomedical equipment technicians.” We recognize the importance of designing our Universal Anaesthesia Machine – and the business model around it – to respond to this need, emphasizing appropriate technology, ongoing training and committed service to give doctors and nurses the tools they need to operate with confidence.

With this in mind, Steve published an op-ed today in Devex zeroing in on how medical equipment manufacturers can play their part in this effort. Check out how he suggests we overcome the various infrastructure barriers keeping hospitals from having the capacity for surgery, doctors and nurses from performing it and patients in need from receiving it.

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