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CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2025; 11: a26160961
DOI: 10.1055/a-2616-0961
Original Article

A Novel Approach to Addressing Surgical Resource Scarcity in Low-Income Countries

Elmuhtadibillah Babiker Yousif Gasoma 
1   T&O Surgery Department, Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay UHB, Swansea, United Kingdom
,
Mohamed Ahmed Marouf 
2   Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Royal Sultanate Hospital, Muscat, Oman
,
Mohammed Elhag
3   General Surgery Department, Ribat Ribat University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
,
Hady Shammed
4   General Surgery Department, Elban Gadid Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
,
Ikhlas Abdalla Siddig
4   General Surgery Department, Elban Gadid Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
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Abstract

Background

Resource scarcity is a persistent challenge in low-income countries, significantly impacting surgical outcomes. Traditional solutions often fail to address the root causes, leading to poor patient outcomes. This study presents a novel, context-driven approach to optimize the use of limited surgical resources in rural Sudan.

Materials and Methods

A multidisciplinary team conducted a comprehensive needs assessment at a rural hospital in Sudan, identifying critical gaps in surgical capacity. Based on these findings, we implemented a multifaceted intervention that included the local production of surgical supplies, the introduction of mobile surgical teams, and the utilization of telemedicine for remote consultations. Data were collected over 12 months to evaluate the impact on surgical outcomes, resource utilization, and patient satisfaction.

Results

The intervention led to a 35% increase in the number of surgeries performed, with a significant reduction in operative delays. The local production of surgical supplies reduced dependency on external suppliers, lowering costs by 25%. The introduction of mobile surgical teams decreased patient referral rates to distant hospitals by 40%. Telemedicine consultations provided crucial specialist input in 80% of complex cases, resulting in improved decision-making and patient care.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a locally tailored, resource-sensitive approach can significantly enhance surgical capacity and outcomes in low-income settings. The success of this intervention suggests its potential scalability to other resource-limited regions, offering a sustainable solution to the challenges of surgical care in a changing world.

Keywords

global surgery - surgical challenges - low-income countries - mobile surgical teams - telemedicine

Authors' Contributions

E.G. was involved in the study design, data acquisition, drafting of the article, critical revision, and final approval of the manuscript. M.M., M.E., H.S., and I.S. contributed to data acquisition and approved the final version of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.


Ethical Approval

The ethical approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Ministry of Health Sudan on February 11, 2022 no. 151/33. Experimental protocols were approved by Ministry of Health Sudan authority licensing committee and the study protocols were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines applied at the hospitals.


Patients' Consent

The data used in the study were anonymized and informed consents were obtained from the participants.


Availability of Data and Materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. However, some data that support the findings of this study are available from the Ministry of Health Sudan, and restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Ministry of Health Sudan.




Publication History

Received: 21 April 2025

Accepted: 19 May 2025

Article published online:
09 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Bibliographical Record
Elmuhtadibillah Babiker Yousif Gasoma, Mohamed Ahmed Marouf, Mohammed Elhag, Hady Shammed, Ikhlas Abdalla Siddig. A Novel Approach to Addressing Surgical Resource Scarcity in Low-Income Countries. Surg J (N Y) 2025; 11: a26160961.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2616-0961
 

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