Recommendations for developing effective and safe paediatric and congenital heart disease services in low-income and middle-income countries: a public health framework

Journal article

Congenital heart disease is a leading cause of preventable death in children, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Despite progress in treating congenital heart disease globally, significant challenges remain in accessing specialized cardiovascular care, particularly cardiac surgery, in low- and middle-income countries. This review examines current models of assistance and proposes a novel global training program to address these inequities. Key challenges identified include building program infrastructure, training health care providers, ensuring financial sustainability, and promoting local engagement. The proposed program, structured under a new international organization, will leverage emerging technologies to deliver accessible and rigorously assessed training in pediatric and congenital cardiac care. By collaborating with local experts and global partners, the program will promote access to education for various health care personnel involved in congenital heart disease care, establish credentialing standards, and foster global collaboration. This unified, scalable approach aims to bridge the health equity gap and accelerate progress toward comprehensive and sustainable cardiac care programs worldwide

Authors: Hasan, BS; Bhatti, A; Mohsin, S; Barach, P; Ahmed, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Journal: BMJ Global Health
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 5
• Pages: e012049-e012049
• Publication date: 2023-05-04
• Acceptance date: 2023-04-03
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012049
• EISSN: 2059-7908
• ISSN: 2059-7908
• Language: English
• Keywords: Quality management; Medical emergency; Public health; Developing country; Operations management; Family medicine; Cardiology; Health care; Nursing; Economic growth; Medicine; Heart disease; Global health; Management system