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Economics of task‐shifting in surgery: a systematic review

Oko, Christian Inya, Ali, Babar, Monahan, Mark, Aborode, Abdullahi Tunde, Okon, John, Ayomoh, Francis, Ugwu, Chidiebube, Ekwebene, Onyeka, Oza, Shivangi, Ibe, Amada, Ifeanyichi, Martilord ORCID: 0000-0003-0611-6795, Wei, Calvin R. and Akilimali, Aymar (2025) Economics of task‐shifting in surgery: a systematic review. Health Science Reports, 8 (9). ISSN 2398-8835

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Identification Number: 10.1002/hsr2.71198

Abstract

Background and Aim: Due to the global shortage in the surgical workforce, especially in low‐resource settings, one solution to increase surgical volume is to delegate certain roles of surgeons to other trained non‐surgeon health workers. However, quantifying the costs and benefits of surgical task‐shifting has several challenges associated with it. The purpose of this study was to conduct a critical appraisal of studies on the cost‐effectiveness of task shifting in surgical care. Methods: A systematic review was done using searches on four major electronic bibliographic databases (EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE(R), Web of Science, Econlit) up to June 2021. Studies were selected based on pre‐defined inclusion criteria and relevant data were extracted. Results: A total of 16 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. 14 of them were done in low‐ and middle‐income countries while the other two, in high income countries. Findings showed that task shifting to non‐surgeons lowers the total cost of surgery and increases coverage without any significant difference in outcome when compared with surgeons. Conclusion: Task shifting in surgical care is considered to be cost‐effective, improving the efficiency and access to surgical care in both low‐ and high‐income countries. Methodological challenges make study findings difficult to generalize. The costs and outcome values are dependent on the choice of comparator, hospital setting, cost items, and surgical procedure included. However, there is a need for more published data in different locations to support evidence for policymaking.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2025 The Author(s)
Divisions: LSE Health
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Date Deposited: 04 Sep 2025 07:39
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2025 07:39
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/129374

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