AUTHOR=Zadey Siddhesh , Rao Shirish , Gondi Isha , Sheneman Natalie , Patil Chaitrali , Nayan Anveshi , Iyer Himanshu , Kumar Arti Raj , Prasad Arun , Finley G. Allen , Prasad Chellapuram Raja Krishna , Chintamani , Sharma Dhananjaya , Ghosh Dhruva , Jesudian Gnanaraj , Fatima Irum , Pattisapu Jogi , Ko Justin Sangwook , Bains Lovenish , Shah Mashal , Alam Mohammed Shadrul , Hadigal Narmada , Malhotra Naveen , Wijesuriya Nilmini , Shukla Prateek , Khan Sadaf , Pandya Sunil , Khan Tariq , Tenzin Tashi , Hadiga Venkat Raja , Peterson Daniel TITLE=Achieving Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia (SOTA) care for all in South Asia JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1325922 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1325922 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=

South Asia is a demographically crucial, economically aspiring, and socio-culturally diverse region in the world. The region contributes to a large burden of surgically-treatable disease conditions. A large number of people in South Asia cannot access safe and affordable surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia (SOTA) care when in need. Yet, attention to the region in Global Surgery and Global Health is limited. Here, we assess the status of SOTA care in South Asia. We summarize the evidence on SOTA care indicators and planning. Region-wide, as well as country-specific challenges are highlighted. We also discuss potential directions—initiatives and innovations—toward addressing these challenges. Local partnerships, sustained research and advocacy efforts, and politics can be aligned with evidence-based policymaking and health planning to achieve equitable SOTA care access in the South Asian region under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).