SOPPA Seeks NMC Recognition for Anaesthesiologists as Competent Physicians

Dr N Satyanarayana, president of SOPPA pointed out how people often misunderstand their roles and refer to anaesthesiologists as “invisible doctors.” “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. Previously Medical Dialogues reported that over 120 anaesthesiologists from across the state established India’s first Society of Perioperative Physician Anaesthesiologists (SOPPA) in Hyderabad.

According to Newsmeter, at present, patients with pre-existing health conditions are typically referred to general physicians, cardiologists, or pulmonologists for surgical evaluations. However, Dr Raja Narsing Rao has emphasized that anaesthesiologists are uniquely qualified to assess such cases, as their knowledge extends beyond disease severity to include how anaesthetic drugs interact with pre-existing medical conditions. “An anaesthesiologist is a perioperative physician who oversees a patient’s medical management throughout the surgical journey,” he stated. Unlike other specialists, anaesthesiologists possess specialized training in managing drug interactions, which is critical for ensuring safe surgical outcomes.

To further discussions on the evolving responsibilities of anaesthesiologists, SOPPA is collaborating with AIG Hospitals to organize the First Perioperative Medicine Conclave on March 22 and 23, 2025, in Hyderabad. This event will serve as a platform to highlight the need for perioperative specialists and advocate for their expanded role in surgical care.

The society hopes to uphold standard 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.

Despite a growing demand for surgical procedures, India faces a significant shortage of anaesthesiologists, with only around 35,000 specialists nationwide and approximately 1,500 in Telangana. SOPPA’s push for recognition aims to address this shortfall by ensuring that anaesthesiologists are formally acknowledged as key players in perioperative medicine, reports the Daily.

Through its advocacy efforts, SOPPA hopes to drive long-term changes in how anaesthesiologists are integrated into the healthcare system. By securing NMC recognition, the society seeks to establish a structured approach that formally defines the responsibilities of anaesthesiologists, ultimately improving patient safety and surgical outcomes across the country.