Official correction: The Lancet corrected the reported rate of patient surgery deaths in Africa to 1% (previously 2%) and a global average of 0.5% (previously 1%).

A new study has found that surgery patients are twice as likely to die in Africa compared to the global average. A lack of resources was to blame for the high mortality rate.

Only 12% of the world’s 2.1-million-strong specialist surgical work force, which includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians, practice in African or South East Asian countries. And about two out of every three people in the world do not have access to safe, affordable and timeous surgery. Full Story

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