The Division of Coloproctology was founded in 1997 within the Section of Surgery of the European Union. This is itself a part of the Union Européenne des Médécins Spécialistes (UEMS) which is the official body in the European Union concerned with specialist medical practice.
The Division of Coloproctology is responsible for accreditation and certification in Coloproctology. The Section of Surgery issues the diploma of the European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) which where Coloproctology is concerned is the only form of certification in the speciality in Europe. It parallels Board Certification in Colorectal Surgery in the United States.
There are now three EBSQ specialist diplomas including General Surgery (EBSQ General), Vascular (EBSQ Vascular) and Coloproctology (EBSQ Coloproctology). Others will follow in other specialities.
All this may sound involved but simply put, there is now in Europe a specialist diploma in Coloproctology where there was none before. Since the first examination in Malmo in 1998, annual examinations have taken place and there are now 92 diplomates.
The examination will be held yearly in conjunction with the annual meeting of the European Society of Coloproctology. The Division would consider holding additional EBSQ examinations in conjunction with national meetings on request.
It was agreed that these examination have to be in line with the eligibility requirements of the EBSQ, channeled through the EBSQ Secretary and firmly stick to the format, quality and content of the EBSQ examination of the Division. Therefore the examinares should be equally national and international
Traditionally accreditation and certification in Europe has been in General Surgery. There is great variation in the formality of this process. Examination is not always required and there is no uniformity in the experience of trainees, e.g. the number of operations they may have performed.
Even more, there is no regard for specialization within General Surgery. To a large extent at the moment this does not matter since selected trainees coming through in General Surgery find their way into specialist positions either by ability or patronage. The question is how long can this continue.
The answer may come from patient pressure whereby it will be required of us to deliver training which has acceptable quality in the eyes of the public and therefore the politicians. As this happens, the specialist EBSQ Coloproctology diploma will become increasingly important.
The Division is determined to establish quality in training in Coloproctology in Europe. The EBSQ diploma is the first part of its policy which will need continual revision and improvement including the introduction of a written element.
The second is the assessment of units capable of offering training in Coloproctology. The third is to establish a system of continued professional development. These are all major policies which will require an administrative infrastructure to realize.
After four years as the first President of the Division, Professor John Christiansen (Denmark) is now retiring and has been replaced by Professor Lars Påhlman (Sweden). During his tenure of office John Christiansen oversaw the establishment of the statutes and constitution of the Division and the EBSQ Coloproctology diploma.
His influence was essential to these developments and European Coloproctology owes him much. The same accounts for John Nicholls, the former secretary, who was replaced by Prof. Klaus Matzel in 2003.
The constitution of the Division includes the appointment of two members from each member state. These are nominated and appointed by the relevant body in their own country. Each appointment is of 4 years duration renewable for 4 years. The current membership includes the member states of the European Union, Norway, Switzerland and Malta. It is the intention of the Division to expand to all other European countries