Data-Driven Surgery: Empowering Practice and Policy in South Africa through knowledge mobilisation within our network

With the signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, South Africa stands at a pivotal moment for enhancing surgical and perioperative care through multi-stakeholder collaboration and public-private partnerships. This initiative presents a unique opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap in perioperative care, especially in the context of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

South Africa has the potential to make substantial contributions to the global body of evidence on perioperative care by sharing data on open science platforms. The local context’s influence on surgical risks and outcomes remains underexplored, making this endeavor crucial for advancing risk management strategies.

By strengthening local research capacity through international collaborations and leveraging private sector expertise, the IPIM initiative aims to make a tangible impact on clinical practices, not only in South Africa’s unequal healthcare landscape but also across the African continent. The use of innovative tools like social mapping will help identify potential partnerships and foster connections.

Additionally, the dissemination of outputs such as policy recommendations, implementation guidelines, and cost analyses of surgical care will contribute to a comprehensive knowledge base. This knowledge will be invaluable for global surgical research efforts aimed at strengthening surgical systems worldwide.