Closing the Care Gap: Strengthening Health Systems for Burn Violence Survivors
Burn violence survivors face a harsh reality: the healthcare systems meant to save them often fall devastatingly short. Women and girls, who make up the majority of burn violence victims, require life-saving surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and mental health support—services that remain out of reach in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Addressing this crisis requires strengthening local healthcare systems, not replacing them with temporary foreign interventions.
The scale of the crisis is staggering. An estimated 143 million essential surgeries are needed annually in LMICs, but current capacity falls far short. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery reports that the global surgical workforce must double to 2.2 million surgeons, anaesthetists, and obstetricians by 2030 to reach just 80% of projected demand. Other articles emphasize that burn injuries involving critical areas such as the face, hands, or feet require specialised reconstructive surgeons, who are rarely accessible in LMICs. As a result, survivors are left with lifelong disabilities, chronic pain, and economic hardship.
But the solution isn’t importing foreign medical teams—it’s investing in local healthcare systems. As pushed for by global surgery advocates, expanding the surgical workforce through training and retaining local providers is essential. Training more women surgeons can help reduce cultural and gender-specific barriers, ensuring survivors receive empathetic and equitable care. Research shows that increasing the number of local healthcare providers leads to more sustainable systems and improved long-term health outcomes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Plan of Action highlights the need to strengthen health systems through targeted investments in training, infrastructure, and multisectoral services. Currently, only half of all countries report having essential health or mental health services for violence survivors. Without trained local providers and trauma-sensitive care protocols, survivors risk facing stigma, mistreatment, or denial of care altogether. The result is a cycle of physical suffering, social exclusion, and economic instability.
Creating a sustainable healthcare system means improving not only treatment but also prevention and aftercare. The WHO recommends strengthening service infrastructure, improving care quality, and integrating violence response into national health policies. This includes developing referral systems, expanding mental health services, and making healthcare accessible, affordable, and responsive to survivors’ needs.
Supporting burn violence survivors requires more than temporary humanitarian missions—it demands sustainable, locally led healthcare systems. By investing in local surgical training, increasing access to specialised care, and embedding survivor-centred policies into national health frameworks, we can ensure burn survivors receive the care they need—not just today but for generations to come.
