Western-style medicine in Mongolia was introduced in 1922. Today the health service structure is well adapted to the needs of the country. Surgery in Mongolia is performed by more than 300 surgeons who serve a population of 2.5 million people. The differences in geographical and settlement conditions create significant disparities in health needs between rural and urban populations. In this report we give an overview of the development and current status of medical service, disease patterns, and medical educational systems, including surgical specialty training.