SLFGA proposes solutions for SAITM as a Semi-govt. Medical College under PPP agreement

The Sri Lanka Freedom Graduates’ Association (SLFGA) yesterday proposed a range of solutions to resolve the SAITM issue including the turning of the SAITM into a semi-government medical college with 51% equity with the State under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.

Chief Secretary of the SLFGA, Manula Chamal Perera told the media at the SLFP head office that a committee must be appointed to review the quality of education of students of the SAITM and submit a report with recommendations to be followed by SAITM students and increase State sponsored post internship period of SAITM students from one year to two years.

The MBBS graduates of SAITM must also be given the

We must first determine the meaning of free education and free medical education. We must have a clear policy on whether the free education is fully cost free education or education with a fee

opportunity to sit the Examination for Registration to Practice Medicine in Sri Lanka (ERPM) and also a committee has to be appointed to analyze medical education and qualifications required to pursue a medical degree in Sri Lanka and a report must be issued in three months with recommendations and indicating necessary amendments to the Medical Ordinance, he said.

“We must first determine the meaning of free education and free medical education. We must have a clear policy on whether the free education is fully cost free education or education with a fee,” Mr. Pererera stressed.

Mr. Perera said there was a possibility to conclude the protests against the SAITM with violence and the attempt to make the health service a profitable business must be stopped at any cost as both schemes are against the good health of the public at large.

He added that it was the responsibility of all to preserve and protect the positive and people friendly aspects of free health which the people of this country enjoy from the time the medical education began in Sri Lanka in 1870.