Global wealth disparities drive adherence to COVID-safe pathways in head and neck cancer surgery

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on safe healthcare delivery, particularly within surgical specialties. There has been clear evidence of pulmonary complications and death associated with surgery following perioperative COVID infection. Mitigation of COVID-related risk for patients depends upon several primary tenets of safe surgery, including implementation of appropriate COVID-secure treatment pathways, provision of adequate testing for patients to ensure COVID-negative status and protection of staff members through suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). Following the initial peaks of SARSCoV-2 infection, healthcare service provision was afforded time for preparation and reorganization before subsequent waves of infection. An ability to use this window of opportunity was dependent not only on strategic decision making but also national financial resources and healthcare capabilities.