Kevin Paul Ferraris1, Hideaki Matsumura2, Dewa Putu Wisnu Wardhana3, Theodor Vesagas4, Kenny Seng1,5, Mohd Raffiz Mohd Ali6, Eiichi Ishikawa2, Akira Matsumura2, Rohadi Muhammad Rosyidi7, Tjokorda Mahadewa8, Meng-Fai Kuo9. 1. 1Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Manila, Philippines. 2. 2Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. 3. 3Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Udayana University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia. 4. 4Philippine Board of Neurological Surgery and Philippine Gamma Knife Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila, Philippines. 5. 5Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines. 6. 6Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 7. 7Department of Neurosurgery, West Nusa Tenggara Province Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mataram University, Mataram, Indonesia. 8. 8Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Sanglah General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia; and. 9. 9Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors, who are from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan, sought to illustrate the processes of training neurosurgeons in their respective settings by presenting data and analyses of the current state of neurosurgical education across the East Asian region. METHODS: The authors obtained quantitative data as key indicators of the neurosurgical workforce from each country. Qualitative data analysis was also done to provide a description of the current state of neurosurgical training and education in the region. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was also done to identify strategies for improvement. RESULTS: The number of neurosurgeons in each country is as follows: 370 in Indonesia, 10,014 in Japan, 152 in Malaysia, 134 in the Philippines, and 639 in Taiwan. With a large neurosurgical workforce, the high-income countries Japan and Taiwan have relatively high neurosurgeon to population ratios of 1 per 13,000 and 1 per 37,000, respectively. In contrast, the low- to middle-income countries Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have low neurosurgeon to population ratios of 1 per 731,000, 1 per 210,000, and 1 per 807,000, respectively. In terms of the number of training centers, Japan has 857, Taiwan 30, Indonesia 7, Malaysia 5, and the Philippines 10. In terms of the number of neurosurgical residents, Japan has 1000, Taiwan 170, Indonesia 199, Malaysia 53, and the Philippines 51. The average number of yearly additions to the neurosurgical workforce is as follows: Japan 180, Taiwan 27, Indonesia 10, Malaysia 4, and the Philippines 3. The different countries included in this report have many similarities and differences in their models and systems of neurosurgical education. Certain important strategies have been formulated in order for the system to be responsive to the needs of the catchment population: 1) establishment of a robust network of international collaboration for reciprocal certification, skills sharing, and subspecialty training; 2) incorporation of in-service residency and fellowship training within the framework of improving access to neurosurgical care; and 3) strengthening health systems, increasing funding, and developing related policies for infrastructure development. CONCLUSIONS: The varied situations of neurosurgical education in the East Asian region require strategies that take into account the different contexts in which programs are structured. Improving the education of current and future neurosurgeons becomes an important consideration in addressing the health inequalities in terms of access and quality of care afflicting the growing population in this region of the world.
OBJECTIVE: The authors, who are from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan, sought to illustrate the processes of training neurosurgeons in their respective settings by presenting data and analyses of the current state of neurosurgical education across the East Asian region. METHODS: The authors obtained quantitative data as key indicators of the neurosurgical workforce from each country. Qualitative data analysis was also done to provide a description of the current state of neurosurgical training and education in the region. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was also done to identify strategies for improvement. RESULTS: The number of neurosurgeons in each country is as follows: 370 in Indonesia, 10,014 in Japan, 152 in Malaysia, 134 in the Philippines, and 639 in Taiwan. With a large neurosurgical workforce, the high-income countries Japan and Taiwan have relatively high neurosurgeon to population ratios of 1 per 13,000 and 1 per 37,000, respectively. In contrast, the low- to middle-income countries Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have low neurosurgeon to population ratios of 1 per 731,000, 1 per 210,000, and 1 per 807,000, respectively. In terms of the number of training centers, Japan has 857, Taiwan 30, Indonesia 7, Malaysia 5, and the Philippines 10. In terms of the number of neurosurgical residents, Japan has 1000, Taiwan 170, Indonesia 199, Malaysia 53, and the Philippines 51. The average number of yearly additions to the neurosurgical workforce is as follows: Japan 180, Taiwan 27, Indonesia 10, Malaysia 4, and the Philippines 3. The different countries included in this report have many similarities and differences in their models and systems of neurosurgical education. Certain important strategies have been formulated in order for the system to be responsive to the needs of the catchment population: 1) establishment of a robust network of international collaboration for reciprocal certification, skills sharing, and subspecialty training; 2) incorporation of in-service residency and fellowship training within the framework of improving access to neurosurgical care; and 3) strengthening health systems, increasing funding, and developing related policies for infrastructure development. CONCLUSIONS: The varied situations of neurosurgical education in the East Asian region require strategies that take into account the different contexts in which programs are structured. Improving the education of current and future neurosurgeons becomes an important consideration in addressing the health inequalities in terms of access and quality of care afflicting the growing population in this region of the world.
Entities:
Keywords:
Asia; HIC = high-income country; JNS = Japan Neurosurgical Society; LMIC = low- to middle-income country; SWOT = strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; global neurosurgery; high-income countries; low- and middle-income countries; neurosurgery certification; neurosurgical education
Authors: Gerardo D Legaspi; Abdelsimar T Omar; Ronnie E Baticulon; Alaric Emmanuel M Salonga; Mairre James S Gaddi; Manilyn Ann C Hong; Kenny S Seng; Kathleen Joy O Khu Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2020-05-22 Impact factor: 2.104
Authors: Nunthasiri Wittayanakorn; Vincent Diong Weng Nga; Mirna Sobana; Nor Faizal Ahmad Bahuri; Ronnie E Baticulon Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2020-08-15 Impact factor: 2.104