The development of anaesthesia in Papua New Guinea

What is it about?

Papua New Guinea is a low income country that has some of the worst health statistics in the Pacific region. This article tracks the development of the specialty of anaesthesiology from various aspects and support from different countries.

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Why is it important?

Access to safe anaesthesia and safe surgery are basic human rights and part of the Lancet Commission and World Health assembly recommendations. This is much less likely to happen in low and middle income countries due to: - paucity of specialists eg the SAOs - surgeons, anaesthetists & obstetricians; - lack of access to a hospital that can do the bellwether operations: a laparotomy, a caesarean section and treat a compound (open) fracture - within two hours - and not lead to catastrophic costs