Letter from the President
2023
Last year saw the relaxation of most of the Covid-19 restrictions. The ASM was instrumental for the renewal of the agreement with the UK and Ireland Joint Intercollegiate Examination (JCIE) Board for the recognition of training in Malta so that surgical trainees may sit for their home intercollegiate examinations. We also finalized an agreement with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to enhance collaboration between the college and the ASM. This includes training the trainers programmes, examination preparation courses, Non-technical skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) and the Care of the Critically Ill Surgical patient (CCrISP). The ASM also help the Edinburgh College to organize Part A MRCS in Malta. Last year we started hosting International intercollegiate specialty examinations.
The ASM also supported Mr Arthur Felice in his election as Vice-president of the UEMS Division of General Surgery and as President of the Board of the UEMS Division of General Surgery.He is an excellent ambassador for the ASM in Europe. I represent the Section of Surgery of the UEMS in the Joint Committee of Intensive Care Medicine.
This year will see the ASM discussing with the Medical Insurers to update the surgical consultation and surgical operation fees. The ASM will also endeavour to revise all the Surgical Specialities curricula in the next to years. The ASM continues to be represented in the Specialist Advisory Committee which recommends doctors to be included in the specialist register and obtain CCST.
We have just started a new year and this is an important year for the ASM because we are having elections for a new committee. It is imperative for surgery specialists to pay the subscription so that they will be eligible to vote and to be candidates for election to the committee. Payment of the subscription may be effected using the ASM website (https://www.surgeons.mt).
I encourage all members to actively participate in the activities both social and academic organized by the ASM.