Cost-Effectiveness and Economic Benefits of Volunteerism
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GLOBAL HEALTH (KURT MCCAMMON, SECTION EDITOR)
Cost-Effectiveness and Economic Benefits of Volunteerism Satyendra Persaud 1 & Leah Chisholm 2 Accepted: 24 October 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose of Review Surgical pathology is very common, but access to even basic care is not universal. Volunteers, either individually or as part of a larger organization, have arisen to fill this gap. As volunteerism is ubiquitous, true audits of costeffectiveness are equally as rare. We explore the economic benefits of volunteerism as well as potential metrics by which its costeffectiveness may be assessed. Recent Findings There are a number of models after which a volunteer program may be structured—from the individual volunteer visiting a particular center to the establishment of self-sustaining units which themselves become training hubs. Cost-effectiveness analyses are uncommon but recommended in order to achieve efficiency with respect to finances as well as human capital. Establishing a universal metric such as disability adjusted life years averted (DALY) allows for cost comparisons across different programs. Several tools are available to assess cost-effectiveness including a number of software programs produced by the World Health Organization. Summary Volunteerism can be tremendously beneficial both to individual and to the host centers or countries. Establishing local centers which provide ongoing care and treatment with volunteer support seems to be the most impactful way in which surgical missions should be structured. Cost-effectiveness analyses are encouraged, and a number of tools and even a checklist exist which provide a framework for this purpose. Keywords Volunteerism . Cost-effectiveness . International . Missions
Introduction It has been estimated that surgical pathology accounts for 28% of disease globally [1]. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the burden of diseases which may benefit from surgical treatment is heavy, and it has been estimated that loss of productivity could cost $20.7 trillion globally over 15 years [2, 3]. As a result of this need, the number of charitable organizations or individual volunteers looking to provide otherwise inaccessible surgical care in LMICs is myriad. Volunteering involves doing something for others without the expectation of a reward [4•]. In urology, volunteerism is not uncommon and usually involves the provision of specialist This article is part of the Topical Collection on Global Health * Satyendra Persaud [email protected] 1
Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
2
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
services to a center locally, regionally, or internationally in order to benefit patients who may not have access to such services. While volunteerism is generally viewed as a positive experience, a number of factors merit consideration including the costs and benefits to both the volunteers
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