Costing and Health Systems Financing of Global Cardiac Surgery

The establishment of cardiac surgical centers and delivery of cardiac surgical care is expensive, limiting access to care for patients without comprehensive health insurance or philanthropic support. In this chapter, we describe the costs associated with cardiac surgical care and lay out opportunities to increase health system financing to afford and expand cardiac surgical care delivery in light of competing health (e.g., infectious diseases) and non-health agendas (e.g., education). We conclude by proposing opportunities for different stakeholders to reduce procedural costs, ultimately expanding access to care for patients in need, and fostering locally-driven solutions, thereby promoting the local economy.