Neurosurgery in Uruguay: study of demographic situation and need for human resources
Fernando Martínez, Ramiro Lima, Damian Glumcher
Abstract
Introduction: the practice of neurosurgery is complex and is of paramount importance to have good trained professionals in each country. It is also important to have an adequate proportion between professionals and population. Material and methods: a survey was carried out in the Uruguayan Society of neurosurgery about: the number of neurosurgeons and residents, and some conditions of the work force (age, sex, number of surgeries per year, number of hospitals were they work). We also reviewed the number of surgeries in the country in 2023 and calculated the ratios of surgeries/surgeon and surgeries/residents. Results: Uruguay has 3,400.000 inhabitants, 42 neurosurgeons and 9 in training. There are also 5 foreign neurosurgeons trying to validate their degree. Of the 42 neurosurgeons, there are 27 males and 15 females, among residents, 8 are males and 1 woman. There were 3043 surgeries in all the country, with an average of 57.4 surgeries per surgeon at year. Just 28% of neurosurgeons performed more than 100 surgeries per year and 72% of neurosurgeons works in 5 or more hospitals. The ratio neurosurgeon/inhabitants is 1/82,.000. Discussion and conclusions: the correct planification of the work force of a given country must be based in the health system organization, the number of inhabitants and surgeries and the most frequent surgeries. Uruguay has an adequate but slightly high number of neurosurgeons per capita, considering national recommendations. However, their territorial distribution is appropriate. A solution for our country and other nations could be to have two levels of professionals - one group dedicated to treating prevalent and frequent pathologies in peripheral centers, and another group to receive and treat complex pathologies in referral centers.
Keywords
References
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Submitted date:
04/25/2025
Accepted date:
04/30/2025
Publication date:
08/26/2025
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