Hyderabad: The Society of Perioperative Physician Anaesthesiologists (SOPPA) has announced its plan to appeal to the National Medical Council (NMC) to formally recognize anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians. This move aims to standardize their role in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care across India.
SOPPA’s Mission and Formation
- SOPPA was founded in August 2024 in Hyderabad as India’s first organization dedicated to perioperative medicine.
- It currently has over 120 anaesthesiologists as members and focuses on expanding their recognized role beyond anaesthesia administration.
- The society’s mission is to gain formal recognition from both the medical and legal fraternity so that anaesthesiologists can independently manage mild to moderate comorbidities in surgical patients.
Why Anaesthesiologists Deserve Physician Status
According to Dr Raja Narsing Rao, secretary of SOPPA, anaesthesiologists are perioperative physicians who provide comprehensive patient management before, during, and after surgery. However, their role is often misunderstood.
🔹 Current Practice:
- Patients with comorbidities are referred to general physicians, cardiologists, or pulmonologists for surgical fitness.
- These specialists often assess fitness based on disease severity but may not fully consider the impact of anaesthetic drugs.
🔹 Why Anaesthesiologists Are Better Equipped:
- They understand drug interactions and their effect on patients undergoing surgery.
- They manage conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory diseases in the context of anaesthesia and surgery.
- Their expertise ensures better patient safety and surgical outcomes.
Dr N Satyanarayana, president of SOPPA, emphasized that anaesthesiologists are often seen as “invisible doctors” despite their critical role.
Upcoming Perioperative Medicine Conclave
SOPPA, in collaboration with AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, will host the First Perioperative Medicine Conclave on March 22-23, 2025.
Dr Sunil T Pandya, Chief of Anaesthesia at AIG Hospitals, stated that the event will focus on global advancements in perioperative medicine and the evolving role of anaesthesiologists.
Anaesthesiologists in India: The Numbers
- Telangana has ~1,500 anaesthesiologists.
- India has ~35,000 anaesthesiologists, but there is still a shortage to meet rising surgical demands.
What’s Next?
SOPPA will formally approach the NMC and Indian courts to:
✅ Ensure official recognition of anaesthesiologists as perioperative physicians.
✅ Standardize their role in managing surgical patients with comorbidities.
✅ Improve surgical patient safety and overall healthcare quality.
Would you like to explore how other countries recognize anaesthesiologists or what legal changes SOPPA may propose?
