The Global Neurosurgery and the WFNS

Abstract

In 2015, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery highlighted surgical care disparities worldwide [1]. No one could ever imagine that Global Neurosurgery would become a real movement, a source of inspiration for others surgical specialties [2]. Over the years, Global Neurosurgery allowed the realization of a collective awareness of surgery as a global health priority.

The Neurosurgical community accepted the challenge of delivering timely, safe, and affordable neurosurgical care to all who need it. Multiple efforts have been made to address this need to promote national surgical policies, improve surgical education and training, build quality research, and advocate for the surgical workforce. The critical factor has been the relationship between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS). Since 1955, the WFNS has promoted global improvement in neurosurgical care, building neurosurgical capacity through education, training, technology, and research.

The goals are ambitious. By creating international partnerships, the WFNS has established multiple training programs in neurosurgical centers in Africa and other countries with limited facilities, allowing residents to work first in the host countries to learn and improve their skills and return to their country of origin [3,4,5]. Furthermore, the WFNS is working on sustainable surgical programs within Low-and Middle-income countries (LMICs) using digital technology [6]. Internet availability allows fast and easy access to digital resources, and digital education has become an emerging tool to bridge the gap between surgeons from High-Income Countries (HICs) and LMICs.