The Medical Council of Thailand is on the verge of approving short-term certificate programmes in several medical procedures, a move seen as a stamp of approval for the growing number of cosmetic surgeons.
Late last year, the council came under pressure from a group of doctors not fully qualified as plastic surgeons to set up short-term certificate training in "aesthetic surgical procedures". The group of doctors, who call themselves "aesthetic practitioners", want approval to perform both facial cosmetic surgery and non-surgical treatments, such as Botox injections.
"In the past, it would take up to three years to become a specialist, but we think it's a waste of time," council president Somsak Lolekha told the Bangkok Post Sunday. "For instance, it's not necessary to study for two years to be able to perform [aesthetic] eye surgery, which can be learned in six months."
The Association and Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine estimates that there are over 1,000 aesthetic practitioners in Thailand, more than half of whom are general practitioners. In contrast, there are only 353 plastic surgeons, with roughly 20 physicians achieving board certification in plastic surgery each year by the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand, according to the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand.
The short-term courses will be divided into specific procedures, which could include, for instance, nose augmentation and double eyelid surgery. The Royal College of Otolaryngologists -- Head and Neck Surgeons of Thailand, one of the professional medical organisations taking part in the drafting of the curriculum, will be responsible for drafting courses on nose surgery, said Dr Somsak, adding that details will be finalised by the end of the year. Although participants will receive a certificate from the medical council upon finishing a course, they do not qualify as a "specialist", he said.
The council will also set guidelines to identify the qualifications of physicians performing each procedure, which includes the type of procedures that can be performed at clinics as opposed to hospitals, and what type of procedures can only be performed by surgeons.
But Suthee Rattanamongkolgul, head of Srinakharinwirot University's Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, opposed the move, saying that the demand for aesthetic surgery is driven by marketing rather than public health issues.
"We have to ask whether there are deeper issues involved, and whether the medical council themselves [have a conflict of interest]," Dr Suthee said. "When the council, which acts as a regulator, is on the same side as the provider [of services], how can we guarantee that the provider is in line with regulations?"
Dr Somsak denied there is a conflict of interest, saying the council does not allow members who have a conflict of interest to take part in any decision-making process. The committee to approve issues regarding the short-term certificate training, for instance, consist of professors from professional medical institutes, he said.
"The secretary-general is not allowed to sit in the committee because he is involved in nose surgery," said Dr Somsak, referring to Sampan Komrit, an ear, nose and throat doctor who was under fire two years ago after reports emerged that he was conducting training courses in nose augmentation for physicians costing hundreds of thousands of baht.
Dr Sampan is well known for his mantis nose implants which he designed himself.