Timely and safe elective medical care helps patients return to normal activities and prevents emergency hospital admissions. Surgery is the cornerstone of elective care and relies on complex pathways.

Alternative health care is important.

To explore what is actually happening, the researchers used a system-wide approach to assess the access and quality of elective healthcare globally, using inguinal hernias as tracer conditions.

This study was conducted by NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery, a well-known academic research organization. Dr. Wah yang, Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University was one of the co-author.

The findings are published in the The Lancet Global Health (2023 impact factor 19.9).

The study suggests that selective healthcare is essential to prevent over-reliance on emergency systems.

Actionable goals were identified to strengthen the system: clarify referral pathways, increase patch repair in low-income areas, and promote day surgery in all income areas. These measures may also strengthen non-surgical pathways and reduce the burden on social and health services.

Access to and quality of elective care: a prospective cohort study using hernia surgery as a tracer condition in 83 countries. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Jul;12(7):e1094-e1103. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00142-6. Epub 2024 May 23. PMID: 38797188.

Full text: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00142-6/fulltext