ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has recently launched an online platform for the registration of aesthetic physicians and surgeons in Pakistan. This registration will be based on Pakistan's credentialing requirements for aesthetic medical practice.

Aesthetic Medicine in Pakistan

The Commission has approved the "Credentialing Pathways for Practice of Aesthetic Medicine in Pakistan," in accordance with which specialists in various medical fields, such as dermatology, plastic surgery, etc., as well as general medical practitioners and general dentists, will be inducted into the respective "Aesthetic Physicians Register" and "Aesthetic Surgeons Register."

Aesthetic Physician and Surgeon

The Credentialing Pathways identify the procedures that require formal training and certification for an Aesthetic Physician or Surgeon to be acknowledged. In addition, the Pathways identify the procedures that an Aesthetic Physician or Aesthetic Surgeon with particular certification pathways can execute. Any future cosmetic medical procedures that meet the requirements of noninvasive and minimally invasive may be added to the list as medical science improves.

The rising demand for Aesthetic Medicine

According to a PMC official, the popularity of aesthetic medical and surgical procedures has increased during the past several years. Since it is a consumer-driven service, the PMC feels it is essential to protect both the patients' and the public's best interests.

According to him, the commission recognised the growing number of people who demand not only a healthy environment but also one that is aesthetically beautiful. According to him, a substantial number of medical professionals as well as ordinary medical practitioners were already engaged in the practice of aesthetic medicine, and the rising demand has proportionately piqued the interest of others in entering this field. Additionally, he claimed that the number of individuals practising aesthetic medicine was expanding.

He continued by stating that patient safety issues are of the utmost significance and that this practice, as well as all other medical specialisations and practises, must be regulated through specialised credentialing processes. This will allow patients and regulators to understand the capabilities and limitations of a given medical practitioner.