The Mercy Ships Response to Global Surgical Need

Since 1978, Mercy Ships has offered free surgical care to countries that rank in the lower third of the United Nations Human Development Index. Our hospital ships provide a state-of-the-art platform for providing a comprehensive package of hope and healing that is comprised of three parts: direct medical services (surgeries and medical treatments), training (educational courses and mentoring), and infrastructure development (renovating and equipping medical facilities).

The report of the Lancet Commission has focused the world’s attention on the lack of surgical care in low-income countries. Since Mercy Ships has been providing free surgical care for over 38 years, we are being recognized as having on-the-ground practical experience. See how the surgeries we perform give us the authority to offer education and training. And we do not just go and do surgery … we also help the nations build their own surgical capability through our capacity-building programs.