International Federation of Surgical Colleges (IFSC)

In Official Relations with the World Health Organization

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,
123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

We are pleased to announce the launch of an updated Web Page for the International Federation of Surgical Colleges.

Major reforms of this organization have been instituted in the past two years based on extensive dialogue at executive level together with the results of a carefully worded questionnaire seeking the views of Member Bodies and associated groups.

Since its foundation half a century ago the I.F.S.C. is the senior surgical organization that brings together many of the established Colleges and Associations of Surgeons throughout the world in a unified body. The functioning of the Federation has changed over the years as surgical practice, education and examinations dictated.

At present our focus is on the newly founded College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa located in Arusha, Tanzania, modeled on the Royal Colleges of Great Britain and Ireland. Its founder, Professor Jimmy James is a member of the Executive Committee and Council of the I.F.S.C. This College takes responsibility for surgical education and examinations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The educational programme of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) has the full approval and support of the Health Ministries of the nine participating countries.

The President of I.F.S.C. signed a contract of collaboration with the President of COSECSA in 2007. The major focus of I.F.S.C. is in the area of Basic Sciences. The first very successful I.F.S.C. intensive Revision Course in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology was held in Zambia and Kenya in November 2007 in preparation for the Membership and Fellowship Examinations of COSECSA held in December.

The I.F.S.C. also provides a Visiting Professor to attend the Annual Surgical Conference of one of the nine participating countries. The first such visitor was Professor Albrecht Encke from Frankfurt who attended the Kenyan Conference in Mombasa in December 2007 where he supervised examinations, examined, gave lectures, visited hospitals and generally advised on upgrading surgical standards.

Finances are in a healthy state at present with very rigid control. Through the enormous generosity of The Charitable Infirmary Trust, Dublin, we receive E10,000. per annum This sum is matched by equal generosity from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The College also provides the Federation with office space and accounting services. We receive £1,500. from the generosity of the late Jonathan Rhodes, Former President and lifelong supporter of I.F.S.C. via The Buckingham Trust, Philadelphia.

Over and above this seed capital we depend entirely on the very modest annual subscription of $400. or E300. from our Member Bodies whose support is vital for our survival.

Adminstration costs are kept to a minimum. The Executive Committee meets annually and the Council every three years.

Member Bodies are updated annually of our activities by way of our Newsletter.

Executive Committee

Council Members