Presentation Description
Institution: Global Vascular Companionship - Victoria, Australia
Background: Vascular disease from non-communicable conditions is rising disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet vascular surgical services remain limited and poorly documented. In response, the Global Vascular Companionship (GVC) has launched a pilot study to assess vascular surgical capacity across LMICs in Oceania, aiming to guide targeted service and training development.
Methods: An abbreviated survey tool was developed to capture key hospital-level indicators, including availability of surgical and vascular services, access to intensive care and computed tomography imaging, inpatient beds numbers, and local interest in vascular training. All countries in Oceania, and non-sovereign nations with populations over 100,000, were included. Institutional contacts were identified through professional networks and public directories, and the survey was distributed to selected tertiary and regional referral hospitals. Data is being collected to inform the development of a regional vascular surgery map and identify priority sites for engagement.
Results: Twelve countries and nine non-sovereign territories were identified for inclusion, with the number of hospitals per nation ranging from one to over ten. Preliminary responses have been received from some health services, and data collection remains ongoing. Interim findings will include descriptive analysis of infrastructure, vascular specialist availability, and institutional readiness. A thematic review of free-text responses will outline key barriers and opportunities for expanding vascular services.
Conclusion: This pilot study aims to generate the first structured dataset on vascular and endovascular surgery service provision in Oceania. The findings will inform GVC’s future outreach, capacity-building, and training initiatives, and may serve as a foundation for regional partnerships to strengthen vascular care delivery across LMICs.
Speakers
Authors
Authors
Dr Ashton Arthur - , Dr Shahzad Sadiq - , Mr Iman Bayat -