Publications
Research, reports and articles by the Global Surgery Foundation and our partners. Select a title to open the publication.
Browse by type: All · Journal articles · Reports · Guides & toolkits · Event reports · Conference papers · Articles & commentary · Annual reports · Further reading
Browse by theme: Women's Health · Maternal Health · Cancer Care · Trauma Care · Surgical Safety · Education & Training · Policy & Planning · Financing · SURGhub · SURGfund · Bonesetters
The NSOAP Manual
A practical guide for countries developing National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plans. Free to download after completing a short form.
UNITAR, Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change and the Global Surgery Foundation · September 2020
Surgical Health Policy 2025–35: Strengthening Essential Services
Finds that progress towards the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery targets has been slow and uneven as unmet need has grown, and argues for treating surgery as an essential service and funding whole hospital systems.
The Lancet · July 2025
A Stepwise Approach to Universal Health Coverage: Embracing Comprehensive Patient-Centered Management
A commentary on a stepwise path to universal health coverage built around comprehensive, patient-centred management.
World Journal of Surgery · March 2025
Scalable policy adoption and sustainable implementation of surgical care in the Americas
Summarises a 2023 meeting in Ecuador, held alongside the PAHO Directing Council, on strengthening surgical systems in the Americas, and argues that national surgical plans can help build resilient health systems.
Pan American Journal of Public Health · April 2024
Strategic Planning to Improve Surgical, Obstetric, Anaesthesia, and Trauma Care in the Asia-Pacific Region
Reports on a 2021 virtual meeting series in which ministries of health, funders and partners shared lessons on national surgical planning in the Asia-Pacific, covering financing, COVID-19, climate change and remote training.
BMC Proceedings · June 2023
Global Neurosurgery: Progress and Resolutions at the 75th World Health Assembly
Reviews progress in global neurosurgery advocacy around the 75th World Health Assembly in 2022, including work towards a resolution on folic acid fortification to prevent spina bifida.
Neurosurgery · February 2023
The NSOAP Manual (Spanish edition)
The Spanish edition of the NSOAP Manual (Manual PNCOA), for those looking to improve surgical planning within national health strategies. Free to download after completing a short form.
UNITAR, Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change and the Global Surgery Foundation · December 2022
Breast Cancer: Moving from Policy to Practice
Report from an online event with UNITAR on the main challenges in turning national breast cancer plans and policies into practice, and how to overcome them.
Global Surgery Foundation and UNITAR · October 2022
Towards a Strategy for Improving Surgical Healthcare Worldwide
Draws on discussions convened for the Geneva Health Forum 2020 and earlier research by the Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change to set out a strategy for improving surgical healthcare worldwide.
Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Health Systems Innovation Lab at Harvard University and the Global Surgery Foundation · May 2022
Nepal NSOAP Orientation Webinar Series
Report from a webinar series co-hosted by Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population and UNITAR to orient stakeholders on developing a National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan for Nepal.
Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal, UNITAR and the Global Surgery Foundation · July 2021
Official Launch of Pakistan's National Surgical Plan
Report from the official launch of Pakistan's National Surgical Plan, which aims to give all Pakistanis access to safe, timely and affordable surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care.
Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination of Pakistan, UNITAR, Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Indus Hospital & Health Network and the Global Surgery Foundation · July 2021
Overcoming Barriers to Accessing Surgery and Rehabilitation in Low and Middle-Income Countries: An Innovative Model of Patient Navigation in Nepal
Describes a patient navigation project in Nepal that helped children from remote areas reach hospitals in Kathmandu for cardiac surgery and rehabilitation by arranging referrals, travel and lodging and counselling families.
World Journal of Surgery · April 2021
Strategic Planning to Improve Surgical, Obstetric, Anaesthesia, and Trauma Care in the Asia Pacific Region: Conference Programme
Programme and speaker biographies for the regional conference on planning surgical, obstetric, anaesthesia and trauma care in the Asia-Pacific.
NSOAP Asia Pacific regional conference · March 2021
Surgery for All: Social Justice for All
An article in the United Nations Special magazine on building capacity in global surgery, opening with a patient's story from the Himalayan foothills.
UN Special magazine · May 2019