Schewitz, Ivan Anton2019-10-242019-10-242018Schewitz, I. 2018, 'Thoracoscopy : the past, the present and the future! A personal journey', African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 15-18.2304-0017 (online)10.7196/AJTCCM.2018.v24i1.182http://hdl.handle.net/2263/71986Thoracoscopy, in my opinion, is underutilised in Africa, for a multiplicity of reasons. These include a lack of expertise, the perceived cost and difficulties in obtaining and maintaining equipment. The benefits, however, in improved surgery and decreased surgical pain and rapid return to productive work outweigh by far the so-called disadvantages. In my opinion, thorascopic techniques should be routine in all our academic departments. Our newly qualified thoracic surgeons should be trained in video-assisted thoracic surgery.en© 2018 Health & Medical Publishing Group. This journal is protected by a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 4.0).ThoracoscopyGynaecologistsPectus surgeryKeyhole surgeryHealth sciences articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingHealth sciences articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationHealth sciences articles SDG-09SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureArticle