Scalpel and strife: Assessing the impact of Sudan's ongoing civil war on surgical practice and healthcare delivery

Abstract

Background

This study aims to shed light on the profound ramifications of the military conflict that started in April 2023 on surgical practice in Sudan.

Methods

This is a survey-based study. The survey link was disseminated to Sudanese medical practitioners via various social media (WhatsApp, Telegram, X (previously twitter) and Facebook) channels. We included only responses from medical practitioners working in the surgical specialities.

Results

A total of 90 responses have been collected. All participants were working in surgical service provision institutes. Sixty per cent of the responses were from the age group 25–35 years old, and two-thirds of the total cohort either left Sudan or was internally displaced because of the conflict. Moreover, 51% are no longer practising because they had to flee the conflict area (75%) or because the hospital is out of service (20%). There was a significant drop in the average number of emergency and elective lists.

Conclusion

The military conflict affected Sudan's already strained health system. There was a significant drop in the average number of emergency and elective lists with surgeons out of practice because they had to flee the conflict area and hospitals were out of service.