ArticleWorld journal of surgery2025
The Evolution of the Specialist Surgeon Workforce in East, Central and Southern Africa.
Article in World journal of surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mapping Plastic Reconstructive Surgical Needs and Access Barriers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.World journal of surgery · 2026Article
- Operating Together: Challenges and Solutions for Sustaining Impactful Global Health Partnerships From 18 years of the RCSI/COSECSA Surgical Training Collaboration.World journal of surgery · 2026Article
- Current use of minimally invasive surgery in Ethiopia.Surgical endoscopy · 2026Article
- Current Models of Plastic Surgery Training in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review From 2018 to 2022.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Perspective of Liberian surgical care providers on ethical issues in global surgical collaborations.PloS one · 2026Article
- On the Shoulders of Giants: The Specialist Surgeon Workforce in East, Central and Southern Africa.World journal of surgery · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAccess to surgery across sub-Saharan Africa faces persistent challenges with substantial disparity between disease burden and the surgical workforce. This updated situational analysis of specialist surgeons was undertaken to monitor progress toward global surgery development goals and address workforce deficits.
methodsA cross-sectional analysis of the surgeon workforce across 12 of the 14 member countries of The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) was conducted between 2021 and 2022. The data was validated by at least two sources, including medical council registers and direct contact with surgeons via COSECSA Country representatives. Results were compared to data collection undertaken in 2015.
results2555 surgeons were identified as practising within the region, a 42% increase since 2015. This represents a rise of only 0.06 surgeons per 100,000. Surgeon density varies widely, with an 18-fold difference between the lowest (Mozambique, 0.22/100,000) and the highest surgeon densities (Namibia, 3.97/100,000). Women surgeons constitute one-tenth of the surgical workforce, a figure stagnant since 2015. Most surgeons (58%) practice in highly populated areas, and 78% work in their country of primary qualification.
conclusionCurrently there is a higher rate of population growth relative to surgical workforce expansion. Innovative approaches in surgical training are crucial to meet 2030 workforce targets. The non-progression in the ratio of female to male surgeons demands attention. Future workforce planning should recognize the growing impact of female doctors on the healthcare workforce and prioritize strategies to support women in surgical careers.
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