[Task sharing - a solution for rich and poor?]

Abstract

The global shortage of surgical and anesthesiologic specialists is partly overbridged by task sharing to unspecialized physicians (often called "medical officers" and non-physician staff (often called »associate clinicians"). Task sharing is defined as the delegation of specific tasks from those who traditionally carry them out, to someone with shorter training. There is ample evidence for good patient outcomes after surgeries carried out through task sharing to associate clinicians, especially for hernia repairs, acute laparotomies, orthopaedic surgeries, and caesarean sections. There is limited research on the role of medical officers, and further research is also needed to assess which procedures are appropriate for task sharing. In Sweden, task sharing is also widespread, but not as far-reaching as in many low-income countries. This article provides an overview of task sharing globally and suggests that there may be lessons to learn for high-income countries like Sweden.