Global surgery teaching content in German universities: a mixed-method descriptive study

Abstract Background Despite increasing awareness of Global Surgery for surgeons worldwide for collaboration and exchange of resources with the final goal of making essential surgery available to all, only a few universities have included Global Surgery content in medical education. Ten years after the Lancet Commission report for Global Surgery, this descriptive study aimed to clarify the current status of teaching content on Global Surgery in German universities. Methods In a mixed-method approach, all medical faculties in Germany were evaluated via a survey and available information on existing courses to clarify the teaching content of Global Surgery in Global Health-related programs. Practical training was highlighted. Statistical analysis and comparative studies using the Pearson chi-square test between types of programs, regions, and universities were performed. Results Of the 45 universities, 36 (80%) offered one or several programs on Global Health, resulting in 81 programs, with the majority being Electives (n = 54; 66%). Global surgery content was included in seventeen universities (37%), including twenty-eight programs (34%), whereas four (14%) contained practical training. Educational hubs for Global Surgery seem to be Munich, Berlin, and Bonn. The reasons for the limited integration of Global Surgery in medical education are the current focus of programs and the lack of expertise and personnel. Conclusion Most universities have incorporated Global Health into German medical education, but Global Surgery remains insufficiently represented, with limited teaching, scarce practical training, and fragmented institutional structures. Coordinated national strategies are needed to strengthen faculty capacity, integrate Global Surgery into existing curricula, and expand collaborative opportunities to prepare future health-care professionals to address global surgical inequities.