CERTIFICATION BY THE PHILIPPINE BOARD OF SURGERY
The essential requirements when one applies for
certification by the Philippine Board of Surgery (PBS) consist of
the following:
1. A graduate of a Philippine College of Surgeon
accredited general surgery residency training
program
2. A complete list of at least 1OO most recent major
operations
3. Passing the Part I and Part II Certifying
Examinations (Part I consists of a written
examination and Part II consists of oral and
pathology examinations)
A general surgeon to be should strive to be certified by the
PBS. At present, it is only after being certified by the PBS
that a physician can be officially known as a general surgeon.
For the general surgical trainees, it is of benefit that
from the very start of their residency program, they be aware of
the requirements of the PBS so that they can prepare for them and
for the certification. A common problem is the logbook of the
residents. It is difficult to update and complete all at one
time on the last year of training. The trainees must
constantly and diligently fill up their logbooks from the first
day of their residency program up to the last day.
Another important information for the trainees is that the
Accreditation Committee of the PCS has required surgical
experience in the following 14 categories with the first ten
being considered as compulsory:
1. Trauma
2. Head and neck surgery
3. Breast
4. Gastroduodenal
5. Appendix and small bowel
6. Anus and colorectal
7. Gallbladder and hepatobiliary
8. Pancreas, spleen, and adrenals
9. Hernia
1O. Skin and soft tissue
11. Amputations
12. Thoracic and vascular surgery
13. Specialty operations
14. Endoscopy