The Royal College of Surgeons is threatening to file a consumer protection complaint against the Medical Council if it goes ahead with a plan to certify short-term courses for cosmetic surgery.
The short-term courses for aesthetic, or cosmetic, surgery are among several under consideration by the council and are seen as an effective way to meet growing demand.
The plan, which has in-principle approval, has proceeded without the consent of the college, which is in charge of designing the curriculum for surgical education. The council has asked several professional medical organisations to take part in the drafting of the curriculum.
Quality: Royal College of Surgeonspresident Parinya Thavichaigarn.
"I wasn't informed of the decision," said Royal College of Surgeons president Parinya Thavichaigarn, who submitted a letter to the Medical Council earlier this year to oppose the plan.
Council president Somsak Lolekha told the Bangkok Post Sunday last week that a variety of short-term certificate programmes in several medical procedures will be approved by the end of the year.
Dr Somsak said the courses will enable doctors to study procedures, such as eyelid and nose surgery, in less time. The move is backed by a group of doctors not fully qualified as plastic surgeons, who last year urged the council to set up short-term certificate training in "aesthetic surgical procedures".
Gen Parinya expressed concern that the shortcut would lower the quality of healthcare provisions, resulting in risks to patient safety. Apart from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, he will also file a complaint to the Office of the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that it was the government's duty to provide standard medical care for the public under the constitution.
"The Royal College of Surgeons does not promote courses that are not up to standard and are not in line with the country's demands," said Gen Parinya. "In drafting a curriculum, we need to take into account whether or not it's a public health issue, as well as having benefits for consumers."
To achieve board certification in plastic surgery a doctor is required to complete five to seven years of specialised residency -- with training in both general and plastic surgery -- and pass the board exams. There are 353 plastic surgeons, with roughly 20 physicians achieving board certification in plastic surgery each year.
Gen Parinya argued the introduction of short courses will result in fewer doctors specialising in emergency treatments -- a field which the medical council should be considering instead.
"Why doesn't [the medical council] set up a short course for treating hernias?" he asked.
Kamol Wattanakrai, president-elect of the Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand, said the medical council's good intentions in improving the quality of doctors who did not undergo qualified training is a doubled-edged sword.
"It will destroy the training system which created Thailand's reputation for having high standards at an affordable price," said Dr Kamol, who is also national secretary of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. "Since the Medical Council regulates the standard of practice of all medical fields, they shouldn't endorse such training that isn't up to standard."
He stressed his organisation accepts the existence of non-plastic surgeons, but the public should be fully aware of their qualifications. In Singapore, for instance, general practitioners are required to identify themselves as such before practising cosmetic surgery.