India, Oct. 18 -- The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimates that five billion people worldwide lack access to safe and affordable surgical care, with common conditions such as hernias, cataracts, and traumatic injuries remaining untreated due to financial barriers, trust deficits, and lack of primary care compounded by patchy universal healthcare. However, success stories like Mumbai's Dharavi slums' effective control of Covid-19 demonstrated how education and community determination can foster self-reliance in healthcare and positively impact the broader society.

The Surgical Accredited & Trained Healthcare Initiative (SATHI) programme, a pioneering healthcare model developed collaboratively by international and regional experts...