It has been estimated that 5 billion people do not have access to surgery (1). This disproportionately affects low-income countries due to shortages in the surgical workforce and the affordability and safety of procedures. Task-shifting describes the rational redistribution of healthcare work from highly qualified health workers to health workers with shorter training or fewer qualifications. This approach has become vital in many disadvantaged areas, where the ratio of surgeons to population is alarmingly low, and the demand for essential surgeries far exceeds available resources. With appropriate training and supervision, non-surgeon providers can achieve outcomes comparable to those of trained surgeons for specific, low-complexity procedures; however, task-shifting also raises challenges, including maintaining quality of care, addressing professional resistance, and providing adequate supervision, regulation and ongoing education (2). Expanding task-shifting initiatives requires strong policy frameworks, investment in training, and collaboration with surgical colleges to ensure safety and quality of care. By empowering non-surgeons, and with appropriate regulation and assessment, task-shifting has the potential to save lives in underserved regions and advance health equity worldwide. References 1. Alkire BC, Raykar NP, Shrime MG, Weiser TG, Bickler SW, Rose JA, Nutt CT, Greenberg SL, Kotagal M, Riesel JN, Esquivel M. Global access to surgical care: a modelling study. The Lancet Global Health. 2015 Jun 1;3(6):e316-23. 2. Federspiel F, Mukhopadhyay S, Milsom PJ, Scott JW, Riesel JN, Meara JG. Global surgical, obstetric, and anesthetic task shifting: a systematic literature review. Surgery. 2018 Sep 1;164(3):553-8.