The first academic report on the development and implementation of the United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub has been published.

SURGhub, a free, open-access e-learning platform designed to address critical gaps in surgical education worldwide, now has more than 19,000 users across nearly every country in the world.

The peer-reviewed article outlines the origin and evolution of SURGhub which was created to expand access to high-quality training materials for surgical, anaesthetic, obstetric and perioperative nursing professionals, particularly in low-resource and conflict-affected regions.

The publication is accompanied by an editorial co-authored by Nikil Seth, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Geoff Ibbotson, Executive Director of the Global Surgery Foundation, who underscore the strategic significance of the platform in advancing global health equity.

A shortage in surgical training

The majority of the world’s population lacks access to safe, affordable surgical and perioperative care. A major contributing factor is the critical shortage of trained healthcare providers, including surgeons, anaesthetists, obstetricians, and perioperative nurses.

Traditional professional development opportunities for these professionals in many countries are limited and often hindered by poor access to relevant and up-to-date educational content.

SURGhub was launched in response to this global challenge. Built as a scalable, inclusive platform, SURGhub delivers expertly curated educational resources to learners regardless of location or circumstance.

Global reach and growth

Since its launch in June 2023, SURGhub has published over 100 educational courses, contributed by 27 international organisations. The platform’s quality assurance is supported by more than 200 volunteer experts engaged in governance and content review.

The majority of learners are based in low and lower-middle income countries. Many learners are in conflict-affected countries – with at least 1,700 learners in conflict zones such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen and Palestine.

One learner explained the simplicity of the platform: “It’s like having a TV and using a remote to go from one programme to another without getting tired and always being able to see more.”

Feedback from another learner points to the quality of the material: “Before SURGhub, I used Google to find new courses but was often disappointed because the materials were not complete.”

More feedback underscores the value of the content: “Where was this platform when I was a resident? When I was struggling? There was nothing to guide me then ... I didn’t know where to find readings and references.”

Future development

The SURGhub team recognises the need to further expand the platform’s reach and educational offering to meet the needs of a potential audience exceeding one million healthcare professionals. Key development areas include increasing the diversity and volume of educational content and introducing personalised learning pathways.

The team also intends to expand the availability of non-English language materials and strengthen the measurement of learner impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes

Continued investment and collaboration will be critical to achieving these objectives and realising the full potential of the platform to transform surgical education at scale.

Get involved

SURGhub is free and easy to access. Healthcare professionals, educators, and institutions are encouraged to explore the platform and consider contributing to its growth.

Opportunities to support SURGhub include:

• Enrolling to experience the platform firsthand.
• Sharing information with colleagues and networks who may benefit.
• Providing e-learning content or volunteering for content review.

For more information and to register, visit www.surghub.org.

You can also learn about how the RCSI Institute of Global Surgery works to improve access to essential surgical care for underserved populations here.

SURGhub is an initiative of the Global Surgery Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), supported by RCSI, in association with the Johnson & Johnson Foundation.