Value proposition

Surgery for all who need it, wherever they are.

Leading global action on surgical care.

Five billion people in the world today lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care. Surgically avertable deaths, including those from cancer, maternal complication, and traumatic injury, cause more death and disability than HIV, malaria, and TB combined, making it a neglected global epidemic, according to the World Health Organisation. Poor access to surgical care will cost low- and middle-income countries an estimated US$12.3 trillion by 2030 if no action is taken now.

Strong surgical care systems form the backbone of healthcare systems and are fundamental to achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. Investing in surgical care services is affordable, saves lives, and promotes economic growth.

With this in mind, The Global Surgery Foundation (The GSF), an alliance of key global health leaders, including the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Harvard Medical School, and Smile Train, was launched in 2020 at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. The GSF’s mission is to save lives by scaling up access to safe and affordable surgical care, especially in low- and middle-income countries.