OUR STORY

Every morning, 400 neurosurgeons wake up across Switzerland, make their way to work, and treat patients grappling with complex conditions linked to the brain. Our work is not easy, but thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and continued training, we can give our best to everyone we treat. In most cases, we beat the odds and life prevails.

When I first visited Myanmar in 2011, the country had a handful of certified neurosurgeons. Neurosurgery was available in the largest cities and inaccessible to most. It did not take long for us to establish Swiss Neurosurgeons International - SNI.

We made it our mission to accompany our peers and improve the treatment capacities of neurosurgical diseases across Myanmar. Realizing that individual trainings would not address the magnitude of needs, we leveraged the scaling effect of the training of trainers. In parallel, we equipped hospitals and enhanced access to treatment. With sustainability, efficiency, and local ownership as our priorities, our goal remains to strengthen medical expertise and infrastructure in Myanmar.

By now, we have trained hundreds of experts. Today, the number of neurosurgeons in Myanmar is closer to a hundred. The figure might seem small, but the change is immense. All of this has taken place as Myanmar has grappled with a painful history and challenging present. Our colleagues in Myanmar are beating the odds day in and day out. The work done by our peers across operating rooms, medical schools, and clinics in Myanmar saves lives.

SNI’s ability to deliver is possible because of our committed donors, long-term partners, volunteers, and supporters. On behalf of all my colleagues working tirelessly across Myanmar, I thank you for making it possible for us to give our best to everyone we treat!

Philippe Schucht
Founder & Neurosurgeon

With 2024 fellowship cohort from Myanmar at Inselspital, Bern.