Investing in Surgical Systems: Building Resilient and Dynamic Healthcare for Africa
8th - 14th June 2026
Arusha International Conference Centre, Tanzania
Access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical care remains a significant challenge across Africa. Shortages of skilled personnel, limited infrastructure, unreliable supply chains, and insufficient financing continue to leave millions without essential life-saving interventions. PAGSCA 2026 will serve as a premier Pan-African platform for advocacy, knowledge exchange, innovation showcasing, and strategic partnership building. 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.
Purpose
To advocate for increased investment in surgical systems infrastructure, workforce development, and technology adoption across Africa, while sharing evidence-based best practices and innovations in surgical care delivery.
Theme
Investing in Surgical Systems: Building Resilient and Dynamic Healthcare for Africa - focusing on developing actionable strategies for implementing WHO global surgery resolutions in African contexts.
Mainstreaming surgical services at primary care levels and ensuring strong referral systems for improved healthcare access across Africa.
Expanding training, task-sharing, mentorship, and retention programs to build sustainable surgical capacity across the continent.
Affordable facility upgrades, procurement systems, and renewable energy solutions for sustainable surgical infrastructure.
Innovative funding mechanisms, insurance integration, and strategies for reducing patient costs for surgical care.
Workforce scale-up, safe technology adoption, and essential drug supply to ensure safe anesthesia provision across Africa.
WHO checklists, outcome tracking, and quality improvement programs to enhance surgical safety and outcomes.
Telemedicine, AI, and mobile health solutions to transform surgical care delivery and accessibility in resource-limited settings.
Field hospitals, mobile units, and resilience planning for surgical care in challenging humanitarian contexts across Africa.
Four days of skills development workshops, hands-on training in surgery, anesthesia, trauma care, global leadership courses, and organized surgeries at regional facilities in Arusha.
Six days featuring high-level keynotes, plenary sessions, thematic panel discussions, innovation showcases, research presentations, policy roundtables, exhibition hall, networking opportunities, and a gala dinner with awards.
Final day dedicated to community outreach through the PAGSCA Wellness Event (Night/Day Run) promoting fitness and public awareness, along with a Blood Donation Drive in partnership with local hospitals.
PAGSCA 2026 will drive transformative change in surgical care across Africa
A comprehensive continental roadmap for investment and reform in surgical systems, providing clear direction for policymakers and healthcare leaders.
Securing tangible policy commitments and funding pledges from governments and partners to support sustainable surgical care initiatives across Africa.
Building robust partnerships for capacity development among healthcare institutions, training programs, and surgical service providers throughout the continent.
Accelerating the adoption of innovative surgical technologies adapted for resource-constrained settings to improve surgical outcomes across Africa.
Elevating professional skills among surgical care providers through knowledge exchange, practical workshops, and specialized training opportunities.
Fostering community engagement through wellness initiatives and blood donation events, increasing public awareness of surgical needs and solutions.
PAGSCA 2026 is designed for a diverse audience including Ministers of Health, policymakers, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, allied surgical care providers, international surgical associations, academic institutions, hospital administrators, technology companies, donors, NGOs, medical students, residents, and patient representatives - all with an interest in advancing surgical care in Africa.
Registration will open approximately 8 months before the event. You can register through our website's registration portal or contact our organizing committee directly for assistance with group registrations and special requirements.
The abstract submission portal will open 12 months before the event. Submissions should align with the congress themes and focus on surgical innovations, research findings, case studies, and policy proposals relevant to the African context. All submissions will undergo peer review before acceptance.
Yes, PAGSCA 2026 offers various sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for organizations interested in showcasing their products, services, and innovations to a targeted audience of surgical and healthcare professionals from across Africa and beyond. Please contact our sponsorship team for detailed information.
Arusha offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit various budgets. The congress organizers will secure preferential rates at selected hotels near the Arusha International Conference Centre. Information about partner hotels and booking instructions will be made available on our website closer to the event date.
