It is the obligation of the Govt. to facilitate local private medical education
Ifeel it is an opportune moment to express some thoughts on private medical education, social responsibility and the current impasse. I hope that by the time these thoughts reach light of day this issue that has been rankling in people’s minds would have been laid to rest by the Commission that was appointed. In my personal opinion they are capable of doing so.
One of the realities in our local scenario , is where the results of the A’level remains the veritable “Sword of Damocles” as to what happens to those from the major cities whose results are just below the cut off Z score mark in the Bio stream, to enter a popular course, as is Medicine. It is an incontrovertible fact that many students of this stream who have good marks, even ‘two A’S and a B’ , of whom there are many, will not be able to secure a placement in such a course. Even though the Higher Education Minister and the UGC reassures that two more medical schools are in the pipeline, they too would accept that this is a gnawing reality.
Having had the experience of teaching medical students for almost five decades I feel it my bounden duty to lay before the public some ground realities that are pertinent to our country. The quality of medical education in Sri Lanka far supersedes that in most countries where presently parents are induced to send their loved ones. I for one, feel it is the obligation of the Government to facilitate local private medical education. That it needs a hospital with a large turnover of both routine and emergency admissions for effective exposure is an non effacable truth. Such facilities are only available at government hospitals at present. A need exists for the Health Ministry to release such a hospital which requires a “change of gears” from its present stance.
A private- public partnership (PPP) would be obviously the way to go. Any objection to creating such institutions to benefit our own children would be a paucity of thought. The hospital and the consultant teachers in them would necessarily have to be compensated. That such institutions need to be reasonable as to the financial commitments would be expected.
The fear that there would be a shortcoming as far as teaching staff in the early years, I feel will not be an issue as, especially in the main cities like Colombo and Kandy there are many with adequate knowledge and teaching skills in the subjects that matter. A proviso to balance the claim that “money can buy you a medical degree” in Sri Lanka must be countered or else “all well laid plans will come to nought”. I suggest that the UGC is the best body to vet private applicants and each year select those they feel on merit, for a placement. Those candidates unable to afford but of good educational standing ‘ vis a vis ‘ their marks, should be given scholarships . An intake of foreign students may act as a resource on this score.
No parent would not like to fulfil their child’s wish to do Medicine if they have got good scores at the A’ level. No parent would like to send their loved ones to foreign climes away from their immediate reach. Parents would like to give them the best education possible. A decision must come “pronto” for there are many with good marks , vacillating as to whether to sit again or not. The Govt. must be bold and not prevaricate. Dr. Channa Ratnatunga Via email