Policy and Advocacy

In low- and middle-income countries, 94% of people lack access to surgical care.

Surgical conditions kill 17 million people each year, which is more than HIV, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Yet, surgical care is still not a priority for most governments.

19% of National Health Strategic Plans (NHSPs) in Africa had no mention of surgery or surgical conditions.

63% had five or less mentions of surgery.

Our vision is to create a world in which governments create actionable policies that increase access to safe, timely and affordable cleft, surgical, obstetric and anesthesia care.

To make life-saving and essential surgery and anesthesia accessible to all, we engage through global advocacy and partnerships that translate into actionable policies and strengthen health systems.

By 2030, Operation Smile will increase access to safe, timely and affordable cleft, surgical, obstetric and anesthesia care for 1 million patients, in part by developing and implementing high-impact health policy and advocacy strategies at the global, national and local levels.

Key Pillars

Grassroots Advocacy

Creating lasting change requires empowering local communities to take an active role in shaping the issues that directly impact them. In July 2024, Operation Smile brought 26 patient advocates to Washington, D.C., where they met with lawmakers to share their personal stories and challenges. Together, they advocated for a bill mandating coverage for medically necessary procedures related to congenital conditions, highlighting the importance of grassroots voices in driving meaningful policy reform.

Global Advocacy

Global health advocacy plays a crucial role in creating a healthier, more equitable world. Operation Smile collaborates with non-state actors, private sector, and the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) and several of its Member States on initiatives aimed at expanding healthcare access. In May 2024, the WHO adopted a resolution to accelerate progress in reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality, which notably includes provisions for congenital conditions — a long-standing focus of Operation Smile’s advocacy efforts. This milestone highlights the importance of global health advocacy and partnerships in driving systemic health improvements.   

Policy Development

Many countries do not have national policies or plans focusing on surgical and anesthesia care, resulting in the under-prioritization of these critical services and leaving patients without access to care. Operation Smile partners with countries to include surgery and anesthesia care as part of national health strategies. In 2023 and 2024, Operation Smile collaborated with health leaders of the Republic of Ghana to successfully launch the country’s first National Surgery, Obstetrics and Anesthesia Plan. This initiative is crucial in building sustainable health systems, improving access to essential surgical services, and addressing long-standing gaps in care through policy development. 

Leadership Development

Training in advocacy is a critical step towards greater global health equity. Created by Operation Smile, the University of Global Health Equity and the Nkafu Policy Institute, the Global Surgery Advocacy Fellowship will empower and train local leaders in low- and middle-income countries over the next decade.

Meet the Global Surgery Advocacy Fellows.