Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery regarding surgical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) require development to address the needs of children. The Global Initiative for Children's Surgery (GICS) was founded in 2016 to identify solutions to problems in children's surgery by utilizing the expertise of practitioners from around the world. This report details this unique process and underlying principles. METHODS: Three global meetings convened providers of surgical services for children. Through working group meetings, participants reviewed the status of global children's surgery to develop priorities and identify necessary resources for implementation. Working groups were formed under LMIC leadership to address specific priorities. By creating networking opportunities, GICS has promoted the development of LMIC-LMIC and HIC-LMIC partnerships. RESULTS: GICS members identified priorities for children's surgical care within four pillars: infrastructure, service delivery, training and research. Guidelines for provision of care at every healthcare level based on these pillars were created. Seventeen subspecialty, LMIC chaired working groups developed the Optimal Resources for Children's Surgery (OReCS) document. The guidelines are stratified by subspecialty and level of health care: primary health center, first-, second- and third-level hospitals, and the national children's hospital. The OReCS document delineates the personnel, equipment, facilities, procedures, training, research and quality improvement components at all levels of care. CONCLUSION: Worldwide collaboration with leadership by providers from LMICs holds the promise of improving children's surgical care. GICS will continue to evolve in order to achieve the vision of safe, affordable, timely surgical care for all children.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s00268-018-04887-8

Type

Journal article

Journal

World J Surg

Publication Date

06/2019

Volume

43

Pages

1416 - 1425

Keywords

Child, Child Health Services, Child Mortality, Child, Preschool, Female, Global Health, Guidelines as Topic, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Pediatrics, Quality Improvement, Specialties, Surgical, Surgical Procedures, Operative