Anesthesiology is a dynamic scientific discipline, and Neuroanesthesia is one if its subspecialties that has seen significant advancements in recent years as a result of the increasing complexity of Neurosurgical procedures. The awareness that this special population of patients require advanced multidisciplinary care in the peri-operative period is the driving force for the need to train Neuroanesthesiologists. They are specialists who promote optimal patient care and safety for Neurosurgical patients. In the Philippines, periodic exchange of knowledge and expertise takes place among the 88 members of the Society for Neuroanesthesia of the Philippines (SYNAPS) along with international academic endeavors and collaborations. In 2023, The Philippine Board of Anesthesiology (PBA) initiated the standardization of subspecialty programs in Anesthesiology in the Philippines. Subspecialty councils were organized and were tasked by the PBA to establish an outcome-based national curriculum for each subspecialty. This included setting up and defining key areas for evaluation, designing of assessment tools, and identification and monitoring of milestones in training progression, which laid the ground work for standardization. The Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Programs being offered in the country were then evaluated based on a set of criteria identified by the Neuroanesthesia Council. The criteria for standardization were aligned with the ICPNT  Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Program guidelines to ensure the quality of the accreditation process. The programs were assessed  in terms of the rationale, mission and vision, learning resources and outcomes; facilities, services, case mix and numbers; and quality assurance policies. Emphasis was also given to faculty professional development, application of a 360° feedback mechanism and the integration of simulation program in the teaching and learning experiences.

These initiatives apart, the institutions’ support for the neuroanesthesia fellow graduates’ work placement, especially in the underserved areas in the Philippines, was vital in answering the need for well-trained Neuroanesthesia workforce in every part of the country. Currently, after thorough evaluation, the Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Program of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital is the only academic institution given a full three-year accreditation. A program that provides anesthesia service to neurosurgical patients, both adult and pediatric (60:40 ratio) populations, with approximately 2,000 cases per year. Our hope that the development of standardized Neuroanesthesia practice and training will provide the foundation for the acquisition of perioperative neurosciences-specific clinical competencies has started becoming reality!