A Qualitative Study on the Political Priority of Global Neurosurgery: An Emergent Global Health Network

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to describe and analyze the factors that shaped the political priority of global neurosurgery from 2015 to 2022. The neurosurgery community formed a movement (that can be described as a global health network) to advocate for the neurosurgical patient to ensure safe, timely, and affordable neurosurgical care for all, and address disparities in care. Semi‐structured interviews with 15 key opinion leaders in neurosurgery explored perspectives on the political priority of global neurosurgery within the neurosurgical profession, both globally and locally. Based on previous frameworks, factors shaping political priority were divided into three categories: (1) network features, (2) policy environment, and (3) issue characteristics. Shared leadership, community cohesion, and guiding institutions helped increase political priority within the global neurosurgery network. Consensus and understanding of the problem and possible solutions have also increased. However, homogeneity of the network and unequal representation are present. Moreover, although there is an established definition for global neurosurgery, ambiguities remain regarding the applicability within the neurosurgery profession. The network, allied with the global surgery network, harnessed on the policy windows and positioned itself for global policy participation, within the framework of the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization. The global surgery network has been a crucial ally for this positioning. Research‐generated knowledge has served as a tool for advocacy at a global level. Continuous collection of regional data comparing neurosurgical conditions with others is necessary to measure the issue's magnitude in each context and serve for local advocacy and policy change.