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 Scientific Programme of the Society of Perioperative Physician Anaesthesiologists (SOPPA) recommends to the National Medical Council (NMC) that anaesthesiologists be formally recognised as competent physicians.
Dr S Kalyani, SOPPA member said, “Our aim is to establish uniformity in the role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians across the country. We would like to recommend to the National Medical Council (NMC) that anaesthesiologists be formally recognised as competent physicians. We will not stop there. We will work further to strengthen legal recognition by advocating in courts, based on NMC acknowledgement, that anaesthesiologists are qualified to manage mild to moderate comorbid conditions.
SOPPA and AIG are jointly organising the 1st Perioperative Medicine Conclave at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad on March 22 and 23, 2025. This conference will bring together perioperative physicians (anaesthesiologists), from around the globe, to explore the evolving field of perioperative medicine, which focuses on the comprehensive care of surgical patients, from preoperative assessment through postoperative recovery, either as day care procedures or in the Surgical Critical Care, said Dr Sunil T Pandya, a member of SOPPA and chief, Dept. of Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine & Critical Care, AIG Hospitals.
Perioperative medicine is increasingly recognized as a critical component of patient care, aiming to optimize outcomes by managing medical conditions throughout the surgical journey. This multidisciplinary approach not only improves patient safety but also enhances overall surgical success, said Dr Pandya.
The scientific programme objective was to authenticate and validate standards laid down by SOPPA for a perioperative physician acceptance by the medical fraternity particularly surgeons, NMC to consider anaesthesiologists as competent physicians. Acceptance as a capable perioperative physician in the eyes of the court of law, stated Dr Kalyani.
Dr Raja Narsing Rao, Secretary, SOPPA, said an anaesthesiologist is a perioperative physician who manages a patient's care before, during, and after surgery. They are responsible for the patient's overall medical management throughout the perioperative period.
Prof (Dr) Manimala Rao delivered a Foundational Lecture. Prof (Dr) N Satyanarayana, president of SOPPA spoke on ‘Expanded Role of Anaesthesiologist as a Peri-operative Physician’ stating, “Every anaesthesiologist should be capable of managing common comorbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, lung infections, COPD, and other diseases in patients, both before and after surgery. Their role should extend beyond anaesthesia to function as a perioperative physician.
In the current scenario Anaesthesiologists are inherently trained as physicians, but there is no uniformity in their practice across the country. In postgraduate training programs, the curriculum includes case discussions and clinical scenarios that cover the management of comorbid diseases.
However, Dr Satyanarayana adds the role of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians is currently limited to individual practitioners or certain institutions, with no standardized approach nationwide. Specialist consultations are typically sought only for critically ill patients, major surgeries, or medico-legal concerns.
The advantages of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians are huge. A significant advantage of anaesthesiologists serving as perioperative physicians is their expertise in drug interactions. Medications prescribed for comorbid conditions can interact with anaesthetic drugs, leading to potential complications. Anaesthesiologists can pre-emptively adjust dosages or modify drug regimens before surgery to prevent such complications, areas that other specialists may not be trained in, added Dr Raja Narsing Rao.
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