Hyderabad: Anaesthesiologists deserve physician status, SOPPA to appeal to NMC

Hyderabad: The Society of Perioperative Physician Anaesthesiologists (SOPPA) has announced its decision to appeal to the National Medical Council (NMC) for the formal recognition of anaesthesiologists as competent physicians. This move aims to establish uniformity in their role as perioperative specialists across India.

SOPPA’s Mission and Formation

SOPPA was established in August 2024 in Hyderabad as India’s first organisation dedicated to perioperative medicine. With over 120 anaesthesiologists as members, the society focuses on standardizing their role beyond anaesthesia administration to comprehensive patient care before, during and after surgery.

During a scientific program held at KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, Dr S Kalyani outlined SOPPA’s objectives. “We aim to ensure anaesthesiologists are recognised as competent physicians not only by the medical fraternity but also by the legal system. This will allow them to manage mild to moderate comorbid conditions independently,” she said.

The role of anaesthesiologists in perioperative care

Dr Raja Narsing Rao, secretary of SOPPA, highlighted the critical role anaesthesiologists play in patient care. “An anaesthesiologist is a perioperative physician who oversees a patient’s medical management throughout the surgical journey,” he stated.

Dr N Satyanarayana, president of SOPPA, pointed out that anaesthesiologists are often referred to as “invisible doctors” because their role is misunderstood. “Every anaesthesiologist is trained to manage conditions like hypertension, diabetes and respiratory diseases, yet their role is not officially recognized beyond administering anaesthesia,” he said.

Currently, surgeons refer patients with comorbidities to general physicians, cardiologists, or pulmonologists for surgical fitness assessments. However, Dr Raja Narsing Rao argued that anaesthesiologists are uniquely equipped to evaluate these conditions in the context of surgery. “Other specialists assess fitness based on disease severity, often without considering the impact of anaesthetic drugs. Anaesthesiologists have a deeper understanding of drug interactions, which is crucial in perioperative care,” he explained.

Upcoming perioperative medicine conclave

To further discussions on the evolving role of anaesthesiologists, SOPPA and AIG Hospitals will co-host the First Perioperative Medicine Conclave on March 22 and 23, 2025, at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Dr Sunil T Pandya, chief of the Department of Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine & Critical Care at AIG Hospitals, said, “Perioperative medicine is increasingly recognized as an essential part of patient care. This conference will bring together anaesthesiologists from across the world to discuss advancements in surgical patient management.”

Current number of anaesthesiologists in India

As of recent estimates, Telangana has around 1,500 anaesthesiologists, while India has approximately 35,000. However, there is a significant shortage compared to the country’s growing demand for surgical procedures. SOPPA’s efforts to establish anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians could help bridge this gap and improve patient safety.

SOPPA’s advocacy aims to bring long-term changes in how anaesthesiologists are perceived and utilized in healthcare. By appealing to the NMC, the society hopes to establish a standardised practice where anaesthesiologists play a defined role in perioperative medicine. “We will not stop at NMC recognition. We will push for legal acknowledgement in courts to ensure anaesthesiologists can function as full-fledged perioperative physicians,” Dr Kalyani added.

The recognition of anaesthesiologists as competent physicians could lead to improved surgical outcomes, better patient safety, and a more integrated approach to perioperative care in India.