Could virtual reality be a solution in surgical trainings in resource-restricted settings? A perspective

Abstract

Surgical conditions account for 11 % of the global burden of disease, with over 313 million surgical procedures performed worldwide each year. This underscores the critical need to train more surgeons, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where disparities in access to surgical services persist due to a limited number of trained professionals. However, in resource-restricted settings, surgical education is often hampered by ethical, logistical, and financial challenges associated with the use of cadavers, leading to significant skill gaps that can negatively impact patient outcomes and exacerbate healthcare disparities. The advent of advanced technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), offers a promising alternative for enhancing surgical training. This paper explores the potential of VR to revolutionize surgical education in resource-constrained environments and addresses key considerations for its effective implementation.