21/08/2026
When real surgeons speak.
STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
Philippine College of Surgeons - PCS
The Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) stands firmly in support of the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) in its call to uphold patient safety, ethical surgical practice, professional standards, and the responsible use of public resources.
As the national organization representing Filipino surgeons, the PCS recognizes that every surgical mission—particularly those conducted in government facilities and supported by public resources—must remain faithful to its humanitarian purpose. Surgical outreach should prioritize patients with congenital, traumatic, oncologic, reconstructive, and other medically necessary conditions, especially those who have limited access to appropriate surgical care.
The PCS likewise supports PAPRAS’ position that surgery, whether reconstructive or aesthetic, requires appropriate patient selection, adequate preoperative assessment, qualified surgical teams, safe perioperative care, and proper postoperative follow-up. These standards must never be compromised in the setting of a short-term medical mission.
We further affirm the importance of recognized accreditation, appropriate specialist training, and established professional standards in protecting the public and maintaining confidence in the surgical profession. Patients deserve to know that the surgeons caring for them have undergone rigorous, recognized training and practice within the standards established by their duly recognized specialty and subspecialty organizations.
At the same time, the PCS recognizes that plastic surgery encompasses both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery as integral components of the discipline. What must remain paramount is not simply the nature of the procedure, but whether it is performed by appropriately trained and accredited specialists, in an appropriate setting, with patient safety and ethical practice as the highest priorities.
The PCS therefore joins PAPRAS in calling upon government agencies, hospitals, medical institutions, professional organizations, and all stakeholders to ensure that surgical missions are safe, ethical, properly governed, and genuinely responsive to the needs of underserved Filipinos.
As we continue to pursue our vision of Universal Access to Quality Surgery, the PCS remains committed to one fundamental principle:
Every Filipino deserves surgery that is safe, appropriate, ethical, and of the highest possible standard—regardless of where that care is delivered.
The Philippine College of Surgeons stands with PAPRAS in protecting our patients, upholding the integrity of our profession, and ensuring that the humanitarian mission of surgery remains centered on those who need it most.
Philippine College of Surgeons
“One PCS. Home of the Filipino Surgeon.”
Thank you PCS