The African Health Observatory Platform, in collaboration with the Global Surgery Policy Unit, has held a policy dialogue on 1 December, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The focus of the dialogue was to address critical shortages in surgical workforce by designing effective task-shifting programmes. Participants from various backgrounds, including academics, clinicians, policymakers, professional associations engaged in discussions on the crucial issues surrounding surgical task-shifting. This was AHOP’s first cross-country policy dialogue, featuring participants from Ethiopia, Nigeria and the UK.
Dr Elubabor Buno (Ministry of Health, Ethiopia) shared reflections on the surgical progress in the country, shedding light on workforce challenges and the efforts made to address them. He touched upon both past and present initiatives aimed at enhancing surgical capabilities within Ethiopia.
In addition, Mr. Assegid Samuel (Ministry of Health, Ethiopia) shared insights on surgical workforce planning as well as success and challenges associated with the IESO programme in Ethiopia.
As well as an exploration of task-shifting in the Ethiopian context, the dialogue also offered a regional overview of surgical workforce on the continent. The discussion emphasized on the need for evidence-based approaches, focusing on clinical outcomes and the importance of follow-up. The alignment of task-shifting with the broader health system, sensible regulation, and the contextualization of task-shifting based on country-specific needs were identified as crucial factors to consider.
There were also discussions on how to scale up the global healthcare workforce to deliver a robust emergency, critical and operative care system, and how to facilitate integration of services.
The policy dialogue in Addis Ababa served as a platform for multidimensional discussions on task-shifting in surgical healthcare. As countries work towards addressing workforce shortages, the integration of task-shifting, evidence-based practices, and strategic planning emerge as key components in advancing surgical care globally. The commitment of stakeholders, as demonstrated in this dialogue, reflects a collective effort to overcome challenges and improve healthcare outcomes through innovative solutions.
