NEWSLETTER
November 2003
International Assistance of the EACTS
Minutes of the Meeting in Vienna, October 11, 2003
The meeting was called with the intention of exploring the possibilities of the EACTS to help and co-ordinate international assistance in cardio-thoracic surgery. 56 members of EACTS replied to the questionnaire; their answers are summarised below:
In the lively discussion which followed the presentation of results several facts emerged:
· Accepting trainees from developing nations from a period of advanced surgical education is the most commonly used method of international assistance, although it often falls short of expectations. Many trainees elect to stay in developed countries, or have difficulties applying new technology in their own institution upon return.
· Occasional visits by prominent surgeons from assisting institution are very popular, but such visits do not provide much help to the assisted institutions. Only a continued effort with visits in short interval results in a measurable success, and such activity is hardly possible for busy surgeons in the assisting institutions.
· Long-term assistance requires careful planning, with preparatory visit to the assisted institution, and participation of the whole surgical team from the assisting institutions (anaesthetist, intensive care specialist, pump technician).
· Support by the assisting institution’s own country is difficult to obtain unless special relations exist (French speaking African countries).
· Continued financial support of the assisted institution is beyond the scope of the individual assistance and can hardly be organised as a long-standing commitment. Basic funding of the assisted institution must come from its own country.
Following course of action can be planned:
· EACTS acting as a clearing house in co-ordinating international assistance: receiving requests for specific form of assistance, registering EACTS members willing and able to provide such an assistance, tabulation of long term commitments which might be joined by other EACTS members.
· Formation of the “International Assistance Committee”, consisting of a small number of core members (5-6) and larger number of associated members, who will prepare the registry, establish the connections to the assisted countries, and collect requests for assistance. The findings of this committee will be reported to the council of EACTS, a budget will be set up and a properly organised meeting to report the results and co-ordinate future activities will be held during EACTS meeting in Leipzig. The undersigned is willing to present this report to the Council and initiate this development.
Marko Turina, MD
