Firm standards of training should be in place before venturing

It is essential for policy-makers to have an open and transparent as well as a no-holdsbarred discussion with the medical profession on how to expand educational opportunities for medicine to the private sector without compromising standards. The maintenance of standards is of paramount importance, a senior doctor said, with nods of agreement from many others.

For, the CA ruling has brought to the fore several important issues, they said. They are: Even though the SLMC made a recommendation to Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne that SAITM should not be granted recognition, non-recognition was in the hands of the Minister. The non-approval of the Prescribed Minimum Standards for Medical Education in Sri Lanka by Parliament, which has resulted in these Minimum Standards not having any legal binding. The Higher Education Ministry having the mandate wide-ranging powers even to visit such private medical faculties and shut them down if standards are not met, similar to practices in other countries like Bangladesh where the Medical Council has such authority.

The other repercussions of private medical education which need to be closely examined, sources pointed out, are: Should there be a mandatory licensing examination for students who pass out of all private medical institutions in the country like the Examination for Registration to Practise Medicine (ERPM or Act 16) that all medical graduates who have studied abroad and wish to practice here have to sit compulsorily? Should the students of such private medical faculties within the country be provided internship in state hospitals? Should the students of such private medical faculties within the country be absorbed into the state health cadre, once they complete the internship?