The Pan African Global Surgery Congress in Arusha 2026 (PAGSCA 2026) will serve as a premier platform for advocacy, knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing, and strategic partnership building in the field of surgical care across Africa. Access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical care remains a significant challenge across the continent due to shortages of skilled personnel, limited infrastructure, unreliable supply chains, and insufficient financing.
The congress will convene over 1,000 delegates—leaders, practitioners, innovators, and advocates—from across Africa and around the world to set a clear agenda for advancing surgical care on the continent. Arusha, with its strategic role as headquarters of the East African Community (EAC) and its reputation for hosting major international events, offers the ideal location for this high-impact gathering.
Integrating Surgery into PHC & National Health Systems
Exploring strategies for mainstreaming surgical services at primary care levels and ensuring strong referral systems to improve healthcare accessibility across Africa.
Surgical Workforce Development
Addressing the critical need for expanding training, task-sharing, mentorship, and retention programs to build sustainable surgical capacity throughout the continent.
Infrastructure & Equipment
Showcasing affordable facility upgrades, efficient procurement systems, and innovative renewable energy solutions for sustainable surgical infrastructure in resource-limited settings.
Financing & Universal Health Coverage
Presenting innovative funding mechanisms, insurance integration strategies, and approaches for reducing out-of-pocket costs for surgical care to increase accessibility for all populations.
Safe Anesthesia Services
Highlighting initiatives for workforce scale-up, safe technology adoption, and ensuring reliable essential drug supply chains to enable safe anesthesia provision across diverse African healthcare settings.
Innovation & Digital Health
Exploring cutting-edge telemedicine applications, artificial intelligence solutions, and mobile health technologies that can transform surgical care delivery and accessibility in resource-limited environments.
Surgery in Conflict & Disaster Settings
Examining best practices for field hospitals, mobile surgical units, and resilience planning to ensure continued surgical care in challenging humanitarian contexts across the continent.
Advocate for increased investment in surgical systems infrastructure, workforce, and technology.
Develop actionable strategies for implementing WHO global surgery resolutions in African contexts.
Share evidence-based best practices and innovations in surgical care delivery.
Promote cross-sector collaboration for sustainable financing and capacity building.
Strengthen leadership and technical skills among African surgical professionals, especially young and emerging leaders.
Raise awareness on the burden of surgical disease and its economic and social implications.
A continental roadmap for investment and reform in surgical systems
Policy commitments and funding pledges from governments and partners
Strengthened partnerships for capacity building across Africa
Wider adoption of innovative surgical technologies and approaches
Enhanced professional skills and knowledge exchange among participants
Increased community engagement through wellness and blood donation events