Surgery In Rural and Austere Environments Course (SIRAEC)

Surgery In Rural and Austere Environments Course (SIRAEC)

SIRAEC – Training Surgeons for Asia’s Forgotten Frontiers

Every year, millions in Southeast Asia are left to suffer and die from conditions that are easily treatable with surgery. More than 90% of Southeast Asia’s rural populations lack access to safe, timely, and affordable surgery. Each year, an estimated 5,627 surgeries per 100,000 people go unmet across the region.
In 2015, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery sounded the alarm — yet still the gap remains devastatingly wide. Without urgent action, preventable deaths will continue to claim countless lives.
At the heart of Asia, Singapore is uniquely positioned to lead change. Through education, training, and regional collaboration, we are building a new future: A future where every individual, no matter how remote their village or how limited their resources, can access life-saving surgical care.
SIRAEC (Surgery in Rural and Austere Environments Course) is our answer to this call — and we invite you to be part of it.

Our Vision

A world where no life is lost for lack of surgical care. Where surgeons in low and middle-income countries are empowered with the skills, tools, and support they need to transform health outcomes in their communities.

Together with our partners and collaborators, SDGHI envisions a future where safe, high-quality surgery is a universal right — not a privilege.

Our Mission

To train and equip surgical care providers with specialised skills for delivering surgery in the toughest, most resource-constrained settings across Asia-Pacific.

Because saving lives shouldn't depend on your postcode.

Our Goals

Equip 450 surgeons across 12 countries and 3 regional training centres by 2030 with the skills needed to deliver life-saving surgical care in rural and austere environments.

Build a global surgical community that fosters peer support, mentorship, and collaboration — reducing professional isolation in remote regions.

Promote frugal innovation: catalysing the development and spread of low-cost, high-impact surgical techniques and technologies for grassroots communities.

Establish ourselves as a centre of excellence for rural and austere surgery by 2027.

"SIRAEC has truly been an experience of a lifetime. The skills and insights I have gained will undoubtedly strengthen the global health projects I am leading back home."
— Dr Anip Joshi, Chief Consultant Surgeon & Associate Professor, Bir Hospital, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Nepal

The design and development of the SIRAEC course is informed by leading global health research and calls to action:

Essential Surgery: Disease Control Priorities, Volume 1 (DCP3, 2015)
Recognises essential surgical care as a critical, cost-effective component of healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Read more

Global Surgery 2030: Evidence and Solutions for Achieving Health, Welfare, and Economic Development (The Lancet, 2015)
Highlights the urgent need to strengthen surgical capacity worldwide, framing surgery as a vital pillar of universal health coverage. Read more

SIRAEC builds on these findings by providing practical, region-specific surgical training — bridging the gap between global recommendations and on-the-ground action in Asia-Pacific.

Across Asia’s low and middle-income countries (LMIC), surgeons are often required to operate beyond their primary specialties, working with minimal resources in challenging environments. Without the necessary skill sets, treatable conditions too often become fatal.

SIRAEC was created to address this urgent need. Designed as a highly technical programme, it equips surgeons with a broad range of practical procedures tailored to the realities of austere, low-resource settings. In November 2024, we held our inaugural workshop in Singapore and welcomed 42 regional LMIC surgeons and 10 local surgeons. Participants received hands-on training in essential surgical techniques critical for saving lives in remote areas.

To uphold our commitment to equity, all regional LMIC participants had their travel, accommodation, and course expenses fully funded, ensuring that financial barriers did not prevent access to training for those serving the most vulnerable communities. Building on this strong foundation, SIRAEC will continue as an annual course, with plans to expand participant numbers and strengthen a growing network of skilled, resource-ready surgical professionals across the Asia-Pacific region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the SIRAEC course?

The SIRAEC course is open to all qualified surgeons and surgical trainees. However, in line with our mission to improve surgical care where it is needed most, priority will be given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who are currently practising or training in rural or austere environments.

When is the next course?

The next SIRAEC workshop will take place from 23 to 26 November 2025 in Singapore.

What is the format of the course?

SIRAEC is designed to be highly practical. The majority of the course will be hands-on dissection and skills training, focusing on surgical techniques relevant to rural and resource-limited settings. Participants will also engage in case discussions and peer learning.

Is there any pre-course reading required?

Yes. Pre-reading materials will be provided to all confirmed participants in advance of the course. These resources are intended to ensure a shared foundation of knowledge and to help maximise hands-on learning time during the workshop.

How can I support or donate to SIRAEC?

We welcome both institutional and individual supporters who share our vision of advancing surgical equity across Asia. Donations help us fully sponsor LMIC participants and scale up the course to reach more communities in need.

If you are interested in supporting SIRAEC, please reach out to us directly: nathanelle.ann.k.x@singhealth.com.sg

Join us in changing lives

Every surgeon we train, every innovation we share, every life we save — it is possible because of supporters like you.

Partner with us. Invest in futures. Help bring life-saving surgery to where it's needed most.

To explore giving opportunities, please contact:
Nathanelle Ann Khoo: nathanelle.ann.k.x@singhealth.com.sg

For collaborations, reach out to:
International Collaboration Office: ico@singhealth.com.sg