Padova Hospitale Onlus: report of a 15 years experience in surgical and medical assistance in developing countries

Nowadays, an urgent need for global medical cooperation and assistance still bears upon healthcare providers. Since plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is a surgical specialty with social purposes, the humanitarian importance of the discipline is, nowadays, stronger than ever. Padova Hospitale Onlus is a no-profit charity association with the aim to ensure sustainable medical programs, in particular in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. The activity of the association in terms of fund raising strategies, volunteer enrollment and operative strategies, have been reviewed and reported in order to stimulate further collaboration, emulation and contributions. Since 1996, the association has assisted over 20’000 people during 50 missions over the five continents, performing more than 2’000 surgical operations and almost 8’000 medical examination, involving more than 320 volunteers, supplying healthcare material or healthcare facilities. Furthermore, an high rate of surgical records and of medical assistance has been performed in the last two years, depicting a positive rising trend of activity. However, scarce financial means, absence of a structured coordination and/or cooperation between associations may often affect the long-term sustainability of these interventions. Thus, only an experienced and structured association may grant the required resources to sustain adequate and fruitful short-term or long-term projects for the promotion of an humanitarian cooperation as much “demand driven” as possible.