Collecting data for global surgical indicators: a collaborative approach in the Pacific region

© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. In 2015, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) recommended six surgical metrics to enable countries to measure their surgical and anaesthesia care delivery. These indicators have subsequently been accepted by the World Bank for inclusion in the World Development Indicators. With support from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Pacific Islands Surgical Association, 14 South Pacific countries collaborated to collect the first four of six LCoGS indicators. Thirteen countries collected all four indicators over a 6-month period from October 2015 to April 2016. Australia and New Zealand exceeded the recommended LCoGS target for all four indicators. Only 5 of 13 countries (38%) achieved 2-hour access for at least 80% of their population, with a range of 20% (Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands) to over 65% (Fiji and Samoa). Five of 13 (38%) countries met the target surgical volume of 5000 procedures per 100 000 population, with six performing less than 1600. Four of 14 (29%) countries had at least 20 surgical, anaesthesia and obstetric providers in their workforce per 100 000 population, with a range of 0.9 (Timor Leste) to 18.5 (Tuvalu). Perioperative mortality rate was reported by 13 of 14 countries, and ranged from 0.11% to 1.0%. We believe it is feasible to collect global surgery indicators across the South Pacific, a diverse geographical region encompassing high-income and low-income countries. Such metrics will allow direct comparison between similar nations, but more importantly provide baseline data that providers and politicians can use in advocacy national health planning

Cardiac surgery and small island states: a bridge too far?

Background Small island developing states (SIDS) make up nearly 1% of the world’s population, with 65 million people across 58 countries. Small island developing states have some of the highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in addition to a substantial burden of congenital heart defects and a growing burden of ischemic heart disease. Here, we present an overview of cardiac surgical services in SIDS, with a focus on Papua New Guinea, the Maldives, and Aruba. Methods We performed a literature review using the PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases to identify articles describing cardiac surgery services in SIDS. Case studies of the history and current state of cardiac surgery in Papua New Guinea, the Maldives, and Aruba were developed and informed by local clinical experience. Results Nine SIDS have independent cardiac surgical centers and 5 SIDS have local centers supported by visiting teams. Papua New Guinea started cardiac surgery in 1993 and is served by a public center, performing nearly 100 cardiac surgeries per year. The Maldives introduced cardiac surgery services in 2018, with 1 local cardiac surgeon supported by Nepalese cardiac surgeons, performing 33 cardiac surgeries in 15 months. In Aruba, no local cardiac center exists and over 150 patients are sent abroad for cardiac surgery, representing 12% of total health spending. Conclusions Small island developing states have limited availability of cardiac surgery but pressing clinical needs. Independent cardiac centers exist with acceptable outcomes and lower costs than foreign treatment, which suggests the need to strengthen regionalization models to deliver cardiac surgical care in SIDS

Global Access to Comprehensive Care for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Paediatric and congenital heart disease (PCHD) is common but remains forgotten on the global health agenda. Congenital heart disease is the most frequent major congenital anomaly, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 live births. In high-income countries, most children now live into adulthood, whereas in low- and middle-income countries, over 90% of patients do not get the care they need. Rheumatic heart disease is the most common acquired cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents. While almost completely eradicated in high-income countries, over 30-40 million people live with rheumatic heart disease in low- and middle-income countries. Challenges exist in the care for PCHD and, increasingly, adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) worldwide. In this review, we summarize the current status of PCHD and ACHD care through the health systems lens of workforce, infrastructure, financing, service delivery, information management and technology, and governance. We further highlight gaps in knowledge and opportunities moving forward to improve access to care for all those living with PCHD or ACHD worldwide. Résumé: Les cardiopathies pédiatriques et congénitales (CPC) sont fréquentes, mais demeurent dans l’angle mort des politiques de santé mondiale. La cardiopathie est l’anomalie congénitale majeure la plus fréquente; elle touche environ 1 naissance vivante sur 100. Dans les pays à revenus élevés, la plupart de ces enfants atteignent désormais l’âge adulte, tandis que dans ceux à revenus faibles ou moyens, plus de 90 % des patients n’obtiennent pas les soins dont ils ont besoin. La cardiopathie rhumatismale est la maladie cardiovasculaire acquise la plus fréquente chez les enfants et les adolescents. Alors qu’elle est pratiquement éradiquée dans les pays à revenus élevés, plus de 30 à 40 millions de personnes en sont atteintes dans les pays à revenus faibles et moyens. À l’échelle mondiale, il existe de nombreux obstacles aux soins des CPC et, de plus en plus, des cardiopathies congénitales chez l’adulte (CCA). Notre article de synthèse présente un résumé de l’état actuel des soins des CPC et des CCA en abordant plusieurs aspects des systèmes de santé : ressources humaines, infrastructures, financement, services offerts, gestion des renseignements, technologies de l’information et gouvernance. Nous mettons également en lumière des lacunes dans les connaissances et des avenues d’amélioration de l’accès aux soins pour les personnes atteintes de CPC et de CCA partout dans le monde