Global Surgery and Health Equity: Integrating Education, Research, and Policy—A Perspective Review
Okon I.I. Kasimieh O. Maidan A. Mitchell U.O. Popoola O.I. Suntay M.L.R. Barroso C.J.V. Gacutno K.J. Gacutno-Evardone A.J. Aban J.L. Cañezo V.C., Jr. De Paz P.I.V. Sium A.F. Dadabaeva R.K. Dzhusupov K. Toguzbaeva K. Lucero-Prisno D.E., III
January 2026John Wiley and Sons Inc
Health Science Reports
2026#9Issue 1
Background: Global surgery is intended to guarantee that all people can access safe, timely, and affordable surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia care, but wide disparities remain, mostly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). When the 17.9 million annual preventable deaths from surgical conditions are considered, the LDCS face a debilitating deficit of personnel, infrastructure, and policy-required backing. Mitigating these disparities calls for a comprehensive approach, which includes education, research, and policy. Methods: This perspective article reviews findings distilled from the global health literature, policy papers and reports, and leading initiatives such as the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans (NSOAPs), and academic partnerships. It reviews pressing issues and solutions aimed at workforce development, research equity, and systems-level policy change. Results: Despite emerging awareness of the importance of surgery in universal health coverage, major gaps remain. Over 20% of public health practitioners lack fundamental knowledge of global surgery, and LMICs produce a minority of surgical research, reinforcing dependence on high-income country (HIC) frameworks. Successful interventions include integrating global surgery into public health curricula, fostering academic “twinning” partnerships, supporting South-South collaborations, and leveraging digital innovations like tele-mentoring and AI-based tools. NSOAPs have shown promise in driving national reforms but remain underfunded and unevenly implemented. However, integrated approaches also face practical challenges, including variable political commitment, competing health priorities, and limited absorptive capacity within under-resourced systems. Conclusion: Bridging global surgical inequities demands a coordinated, decolonial approach linking education, research, and policy. Building local capacity, prioritizing LMIC leadership, and embedding surgical care within broader health systems are essential to achieving sustainable, equitable progress. Global surgery must evolve from fragmented efforts into a cohesive movement that views surgical care as a fundamental human right. Future work should articulate clearer stakeholder-specific strategies, particularly for governments, academic institutions, NGOs, and funders, to ensure that integrated approaches translate into actionable, context-appropriate reforms.
decolonial , education , global surgery , health equity , LMICs , policy , research
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Department of Research, Medical Research Circle (MedReC), Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Manilla, Philippines
Department of Neurosurgery, Taraz City Multidisciplinary Hospital and Consulting and Diagnostic Center, Taraz, Kazakhstan
Department of Medicine, University of Abuja College of Health Sciences, Abuja, Nigeria
Department of Clinical Medicine, Shenyang Medical College, Liaoning, Shenyang, China
World Surgical Foundation Philippines, Manila, Philippines
Bukidnon State University, Bukidnon, Malaybalay City, Philippines
Eastern Visayas Medical Center, Leyte, Tacloban City, Philippines
Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation, Leyte, Tacloban City, Philippines
College of Education, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, La Union, Philippines
Biliran Province State University, Leyte, Naval, Philippines
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Pauls Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tashkent Medical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
International Higher School of Medicine, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Osh State University, Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
Office for Research, Extension and Innovations, Bukidnon State University, Bukidnon, Malaybalay, Philippines
Research and Innovation Office, Biliran Province State University, Biliran, Naval, Philippines
Department of Research
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
Department of Neurosurgery
Department of Medicine
Department of Clinical Medicine
World Surgical Foundation Philippines
Bukidnon State University
Eastern Visayas Medical Center
Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation
College of Education
Biliran Province State University
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Tashkent Medical University
International Higher School of Medicine
Osh State University
Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University
Department of Global Health and Development
Office for Research
Research and Innovation Office
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