Specialist Accreditation Committee
Medical
Annual Report
2011
Contents:
Page
Functions of the SAC 3
Composition of the SAC 3
List of members and substitutes 4
Attendance 6
Workings and Activities 7
Review of applications for the year 2011 9
Applications approved for specialist registration 10
Functions of the SAC
The Specialist Accreditation Committee is established by Art. 29 of the Health Care Professions Act 2003 part VI (Chap. 464)
To issue Certificates of Completion of Specialist Training in the specialties listed in the 5th Schedule of the HCPA, upon the fulfilment of criteria recommended by the relevant professional associations listed in the Fourth Schedule;
To advise the minister and the relevant council on issues concerning Specialist Training and registration and any other matter that may be referred to it;
To act as the advisory body for training in any of the special areas of practice;
To accredit post-graduate training programmes;
To levy such fees for accreditation, as may be prescribed.
COMPOSITION OF THE SPECIALIST ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE
One member appointed by the relevant council;
One member, not being a member of the relevant council, appointed by the Dean of the relevant Faculty or Director of the relevant Institute of the University of Malta;
One member, not being a member of the relevant Council, appointed by the Superintendent of Public Health;
One member not being a member of the relevant Council, appointed by each of the relevant professional associations.
The members of the Specialist Accreditation Committee shall be so appointed for a term of three years, and may be re-appointed for a further term or terms;
The members of the Specialist Accreditation Committee shall, every three years elect a Chairperson from among themselves.
LIST of MEMBERS and SUBSTITUTES of the SAC
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF MALTA
Representative: Prof. Stephen Fava M.D.,MRCP.,FACP.,FEFIM.,FRCP.,M.Phil.,Ph.D
Chairperson
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Dr Anton Grech
APPOINTED BY THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(UoM) Art. 30 (b) HCPA
Representative: Mr Mark Schembri MD., LRCP.,LRCS.,LRCPS.,FRCS
Substitute: Prof. Josanne Vassallo MD., M.Sc., MRCP (UK) F.A.C.E., F.A.C.P.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL
Mr John Cauchi
Substitute: Dr Michael Boffa M.D., MRCP. M. Sc., T.Derm., FRCP.
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTA ASSOCIATION OF OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
Mr. Melvin Gouder
Substitute: Dr Dennis Mallia
REPRESENTATIVE: ASSOCIATION OF ANAESTHESIOLOGISTS
Dr. Carmel Abela M.D., FCARCSI., Dip. Pain MED DIBICM
Substitute: Dr. Mario Zerafa M.D., FRCA., DEAA.
REPRESENTATIVE: ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICIANS OF MALTA
Dr James Pocock MD., MRCP (UK)
Substitute: Dr. E. Farrugia M.D; Dip (Neph) FACP; FRCP.
REPRESENTATIVE: ASSOCIATION OF SURGEONS OF MALTA
Dr. Gordon Caruana Dingli M.D., LRCP (Edin)., LRCS (Edin)., LRCP&S (Glasg)., FRCS (Edin) FRCS RCP&S (Glasg)
Dr Joseph Galea was appointed on the 1st August 2011
Substitute: Ms. Angela Sultana M.D., FRCS (Edin)
Dr Gordon Caruana Dingli became substitute on the 1st August 2011
REPRESENTATIVE: THE ASSOCIATION OF ORTHOPOEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGEONS OF MALTA
Mr. Carmel Sciberras M.D., FRCS (Eng) replaced by Mr Ivan Esposito on April 2011
Substitute: Mr. J. Esposito MD., FRCS(Eng)
REPRESENTATIVE: ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE
Dr Nadine Delicata M.D.
Substitute: Dr Taygeta Firman M.D., M.B.A
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTA COLLEGE OF FAMILY DOCTORS
Dr Jean Karl Soler M.D., M.Sc.GP/PHC(Ulster), MMCFD
REPRESENTATIVE from May 2011 is Dr Jurgen Abela
Substitute : Dr Doreen Cassar
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTA COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS
Mr Raymond Galea M.D., MRCOG
Substitute: Dr Mark Formosa
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTA COLLEGE OF PATHOLOGISTS
Dr. Bridget Ellul MBChB, MRCPath, FRCPath
Substitute: Dr Chris Barbara M.D., MSc.(Lond), DLSHTM
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTESE PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION
Dr Paul Soler
Substitute: Dr Doriette Soler M.D., MRCP
REPRESENTATIVE: MALTESE RADIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Dr. S. Zrinzo., FA FUR., Radiologie
REPRESENTATIVE : MALTESE ASSOCIATION OF DERMATOLOGY
Dr Lawrence Scerri, MD FRCP (Lond.), FRCP (Glasg.) CCST Derm (UK)
ATTENDANCE
11th January 2011 - 6th December 2011
Number of sittings – 7
Institution / PresentMedical Association of Malta and Chairperson / 7
Representative Superintendent of Public Health / 1
Representing University of Malta / 5
Representing Medical Council / 5
Association of Anaesthesiologists of Malta / 6
Association of Surgeons of Malta / 7
Malta College of Family Doctors
May 2011 onwards/new representative / 4
Mata College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology / 6
Malta College of Pathologists / 6
Maltese Paediatric Association / 3
Maltese Radiological Society / 4
Association of Physicians / 5
Malta Association of Ophthalmologists / 6
Malta Association of Public Health Medicine / 4
Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology
(Started 28th June 2011) / 1
The Association of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons of Malta *
*Please note that no representative was present at the meetings since they were not informed due to a mistake in their contact number.
Workings and Activities
Possible closure of grandfathering clause
It was decided that for the purpose of trainees who are extending their training after 2010 the Grandfathering clause will still be a valid and accepted way to apply for inclusion into the specialist register.
Training programme in Dermatology
Dermatology is an organ speciality that involves the diagnosis, treatment (both medical and surgical) and prevention of diseases of the skin, adjacent mucosae, and appandages (hair and nails) as well as skin manifestations of systemic diseases and systemic manifestations of skin diseases. It also encompasses the promotion of good skin health.
The sylabbus of the training programme in Dermatology was read out and approved by the specialist accreditation committee. The following minor amendments were done: One year out of four years of training is to be performed abroad. It was also defined what the training abroad should consist of.
Training Programme in Infectious Diseases
Training in Infectious Diseases provides a generic programme for specialists who may practice in a variety of infection related disciplines for example tropical medicine, HIV medicine, infection control and aspects of public health medicine.
There were some minor amendments presented by Dr Tonio Piscopo and CMA. These were discussed and the amendments were approved during a meeting of the SAC.
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Sports and Exercise Medicine was added as a speciality in the Health Care Professions Act as speciality number 51.after speciality number 50 ‘Baromedicine’
Rehabiltation Medicine Training Programme
The core competencies in Rehabiltation Medicine are the following:
1. General PRM including:
a) Assessment and diagnostics
b) Health intervention including therapeutic exercise and physical modalities
c) Kinesiology and gait analysis
d) Orthotics and prosthetics
e) Wheelchair and assistive devices
f) Alternative medicine (e.g. balneology, pain management etc)
2. Rehabilitation in various disorders of the Nervous system- including brain and spinal trauma, neurological problems in children and congenital deficits.
3. Rehabilitation in Orthopaedic and Musculo-skeletal disorders – including limb loss and amputations
4. Rehabilitation in other specific disabling conditions- including cardiac and vascular problems, respiratory problems, malignancy, elderly problems, bladder/bowel problems etc
5. Integrative Rehabilitation including- management, organization of services, training, development of multidisciplinary care and community based Rehabilitation issues.
Dr Stephen Xuereb who presented the training programme also mentioned that Karen Grech Hospital is a rehabilitation hospital and not a geriatric hospital and thus the approach is different from geriatrics. In fact Karen Grech Hospital also welcomes young patients who are in need of rehabilitation.
Genitourinary Training Programme
Genitourinary medicine (GUM) is the speciality that informs the prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. The core elements of the speciality are the clinical management of STI’s and HIV/ AIDS, surveillance and reporting, the prevention of morbidity and mortality due to STI’s and HIV by initiating treatment, partner notification and behavioural change. GUM physicians are required to have specialist skills in the delivery of HIV and GUM services, clinical governance, public health, epidemiology and the provision of contraception. The speciality of genitourinary medicine has a strong multidisciplinary ethos and requires excellent communication skills.
Close liaison is required with microbiology and virology, the specialities of acute medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, sexual and reproductive health, paediatrics, dermatology, accident and emergency medicine, public health departments and mental health services. The work of the specialist encompasses management of young person’s psychosexual problems, victims of sexual assault and co-infection of HIV with hepatitis or tubercolosis and liaison with other specialists who manage these disciplines.
Management of complex antiretroviral treatments, drug interactions, understanding of antiretroviral drug resistance patterns, treatment side effects besides management of HIV in the antenatal, family, elderly and adolescent setting are taught during training. As the field is rapidly evolving it is expected that trainees will actively participate in research and audit.
Training Co-Ordinators in Paediatrics
When a call for application for training co-ordinators is issued it usually specifies that the applicant needs 5 years experience in the particular speciality and also that he/she is listed as a specialist on the official register. The Paediatric Association emphasized that Paediatrics and Neonatology are different specialities thus if a co-ordinator in Paediatrics and Neonatology is to be appointed he/she should be officially a specialist in both. The Paediatric association will not accept that co-ordinators in Neonatology and Paediatrics are not specialists on both and is thus requesting that the SAC supports this idea.
Review of applications for the year 2011
New applications received in 2011 from Maltese nationals and from non EU applicants
A total of 42 applications were received for the following specialities:
Specialisation / ApplicationsAnaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine / 2
Cardiology / 1
Dermatology and Venereology / 1
Diabetes and Endocrinology / 1
Family Medicine / 13
Gastroenterology / 1
General (Internal) Medicine / 2
General Surgery / 6
Geriatrics / 1
Haematology / 1
Infectious Disease / 1
Neurology / 1
Neurosurgery / 1
Obstetrics and Gynaecology / 4
Ophthalmology / 1
Paediatric Surgery / 1
Plastic Surgery / 1
Public Health Medicine / 2
Rheumatology / 2
Sports and Exercise Medicine / 2
Urology / 1
Applications approved for Specialist Registration and/ or CCST
Specialisation / ApplicationsAnaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine / 1
Cardiology / 1
Dermatology and Venereology
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Family Medicine / 14
Gastroenterology
General (Internal) Medicine / 1
General Surgery / 3
Geriatrics
Haematology / 1
Histopathology and Cytology / 1
Infectious Disease / 1
Nephrology / 1
Neurology / 2
Neurosurgery / 1
Obstetrics and Gynaecology / 3
Ophthalmology / 1
Paediatric Surgery
Plastic Surgery
Public Health Medicine / 3
Rheumatology
Sports and Exercise Medicine
Urology / 2
Vascular Surgery / 1